RTC strike takes deadly turn

Hyderabad: The TSRTC strike, which entered ninth day on Sunday, was intensified by the staff with 'Vanta Vaarpu' programme across the state.

They also staged protests at various places in the state holding the state government and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao responsible for the death of Khammam depot driver Srinivas Reddy, who had immolated himself on Saturday and died on Sunday at DRDO Apollo Hospital. Police had a tough time handling the protestors at the hospital.

Srinivas Reddy's death escalated tension, especially in Khammam district where some unidentified persons damaged RTC buses. They also prevented temporary drivers from plying the buses.

Several leaders of RTC unions were taken into custody by the police. Another RTC employee Ravi, attached to Narsampet Depot of Warangal district, also attempted suicide. He tried to set himself ablaze by pouring kerosene on his body.

However, some employees' union leaders and police personnel foiled the attempt. The RTC JAC has given a call for Khammam bandh on Monday in protest against the death of driver Srinivas Reddy.

The Congress and Left parties have announced their support to the bandh. The Congress has also declared its support to the call for Telangana Bandh on October 19.

The BJP condemned the adamant attitude of the state government and demanded ex gratia of Rs 50 lakh for the family of Srinivas Reddy.

Meanwhile, Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers (TNGO) Association president K Ravinder Reddy called upon the TSRTC employees not to fall into the trap of Opposition parties.

It may be mentioned here that the TNGOs had come in for severe criticism from the Opposition parties for accepting a lunch invitation by the Chief Minister and meeting him recently.

They even alleged that the leaders of TGOs and TNGOs seem to have sold out the interests of employees by meeting the Chief Minister at a time when nearly 50,000 RTC workers were on the streets. The Chief Minister has been trying to create a division among the employees, they added.

Reacting to this, Ravinder Reddy said that the Opposition was indulging in mudslinging against them. He said that they had met the Chief Minister to urge him to resolve their problems.

He found fault with the RTC employees for not consulting them before going on strike. He said the employees should fight on their own without taking the support of the political parties.

He said the TNGOs association was ready to take up the cause of the RTC if they joined hands with them. Reddy added that it was the RTC employees who were not willing to join hands with them.

On the other hand, government teachers affiliated to various teachers unions and even the Revenue staff have extended their support to the striking RTC staff and demanded that the government reopen talks with the RTC unions.

In districts, RTC employees tried to lay siege to the house of BC Welfare and Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar in Karimnagar.

The former MLA of Choppadandi Bodiga Shoba along with BJP women wing took to begging and handed over the collections to the women conductors of the RTC.

At Huzurabad, after coming to know about the news of the death of driver Srinivas Reddy, RTC employees staged a dharna at Ambedkar statue and blocked the road.