KK makes U-turn on mediatory mission

Hyderabad: TRS Parliamentary Party leader K Keshava Rao took a U-turn on being a mediator between the Telangana government and striking RTC workers stating that he had no authority to hold talks.

In an informal interaction with media here, Keshava Rao clarified that neither the government has asked him to take up discussion with workers nor he had called the union leaders for talks. "The workers and government need to talk.

If it benefits the workers, I am ready to mediate. It is good the workers are willing to have conversation with me. I am a socialist leader and, I will always stand by workers," said Keshava Rao.

The TRS leader had issued a statement on Monday urging the RTC workers to call off their strike and requested the government to accept all their demands except the merger of the Corporation.

The workers' union leaders too responded positively and said that they were ready for talks if Keshava Rao mediates. There were speculations that the government may have softened its stand since the statement had come from a senior party leader.

However, Keshava Rao said that he had issued statement as he was aggrieved over the suicides of the workers. "I thought the situation was getting out of control hence I issued a press release.

I have not talked to the Chief Minister before or after issuing the statement. I am trying to get in touch with the Chief Minister, but he was not available," said Keshava Rao.

Rao said according to him merger of RTC with the government was not possible but if the government wants to merge RTC, he would not have any objection. "I don't know what the intention of government is. If that is known, the problem will get solved," said Rao.

Meanwhile, former MP and Congress leader Konda Vishweshwar Reddy met Keshava Rao on Tuesday in wake of the statement of the senior TRS leader.

Talking to media, Vishweshwar Reddy said Keshava Rao had reacted on the issue with a big heart and added that the strike would cause losses to all sections of society. He also said that the ruling TRS party would suffer a lot.

Reddy said that KK had told him that he would hold mediation only after receiving instructions from the Chief Minister. Targeting the CM, he alleged that KCR was of the view that he could run the state with the help of the police department.