Mahbubnagar: Opposition support a shot in the arm for striking RTC staff

Mahbubnagar: The agitating RTC employees across erstwhile Mahbubnagar got a shot in the arm with the Left parties including CPM, CPI and their allied associations declaring their full support to their strike on Thursday.

In Wanaparthy district, the Left parties and their allied associations along with other opposing parties pledged their full support and tried to stage a sit-in in front of the Wanaparthy depot. However, the alert police foiled their plans.

Later, leaders from RTC JAC, the CPM and CPI along with the leaders of Congress and other opposition parties took out a huge rally from the RTC depot. Here also, the police intervened and tried to stop the leaders. However, the JAC leaders along with the opposition party leaders entered into an altercation with the police for their suppressive methods and not allowing them to express their dissent towards the government's adamant attitude. Amidst high drama between the police and the RTC JAC and political leaders, the rally went on up to Rajiv Chowk and later the police forced the rally to move towards Dharna Chowk.

The JAC leaders raised slogans against the attitude of the police and the government. They demanded the government to immediately shun away from its adamant attitude and merge RTC with the government.

Speaking on the occasion, the JAC leaders said, "The TRS government is behaving in an insensitive way towards the issues of RTC employees. The government is trying to privatise the Corporation which is sure going to backfire. We are demanding the government to immediately resume talks and consider our just demands and resume services."

In Mahbubnagar district, the RTC employees got support from the CPI, CPM and Congress parties. They also took out a rally from the RTC bus stand and staged a protest at Telangana Chowk. Later, the police dispersed the agitating leaders and cleared the traffic.

In Narayanpet, the RTC employees got support from the all party members, who later garlanded the statue of Ambedkar and gave a representation to the statue. Speaking on the occasion, the leaders said the role of RTC employees during Telangana agitation was unforgettable. However, the KCR government was behaving in an insensitive way. It must come down and resolve the issue immediately.

In Gadwal district, the police arrested the RTC JAC leaders and shifted them to Gattu police station for stopping the RTC buses at Gadwal bus depot.