RTC Merger with Government matters most: TSRTC JAC

Hyderabad: While expressing their readiness for talks with the government, the TSRTC JAC leaders made it clear that there was no question of leaving the demand for merger of the RTC with the government.

The RTC employees along with political party leaders took up 'dhoom dhaam' at Dilsukhnagar depot in the city as the strike entered 19th day on Wednesday.

The JAC leaders criticised Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao alleging that he had twisted the orders of the High Court to suit his argument on the strike.

RTC JAC convener E Ashwathama Reddy said that the RTC workers had never given up on their demand for the merger of the Corporation with the government.

"There is no question of going back on the merger demand. The Chief Minister is lying that workers have given up their merger demand. If the Chief Minister can prove this, I am ready to get hanged," said Reddy.

The TMU leader said that time has come for changing the colour of the union flag. It may be mentioned here that the TMU is affiliated to the TRS and colour of its flag is Pink.

"We brought flags as there were union elections but now these will get wasted. Time has come for us to change the colour of the flag," said Reddy. Why is the Chief Minister afraid of being questioned? He should wake up at least now and solve the demands of the workers, he said.

CPM leader T Veerabhadram said the strike was historical because all the RTC unions were supporting the strike. "Earlier, when EU called for a strike, the TMU used to oppose and if the TMU called the strike, the EU used to oppose. But today, they are united on their demands," said Veerabhadram.

He said that no one can stop the strike and asked the workers not to get disheartened and continue their strike in the same spirit as the merger demand has become demand of the entire Telangana society.

TDP leader Mothkupally Narsimhulu said KCR was behaving like a Nizam ruler. It was a mistake that the people blindly supported KCR during Telangana agitation.

CPI secretary Chada Venkat Reddy said that the CM does not want unions in the Corporation. He should know that there were unions even during the Nizam's rule. The workers have right to form unions, said Reddy.