KCR will shut TSRTC if voted to power: Uttam

​Hyderabad: Telangana Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday warned the employees of Road Transport Corporation and their families that K Chandrashekar Rao would shut the Corporation if he gets elected as Chief Minister again.

Addressing the Aatmiya Abhinandana Sabha, organised by Telangana Jatiya Mazdoor Union (TJMU) at RTC Kalyana Mandapam, Uttam said that the return of TRS to power in next election would be a direct threat to the very existence of RTC.

He reminded that Chandrashekar Rao had threatened to close the Corporation when employees gave a strike notice seeking redressal of their demands. Stating that RTC provides affordable transport to common people, he said that the Corporation could not be judged in terms of profit and loss.

The TPCC chief said that the State government should have strengthened the RTC by extending required financial assistance.

However, citing lack of funds, KCR had neglected the RTC while putting the fate of thousands of employees and their families to uncertainty. He blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre and the Chief Minister for the deteriorating condition of RTC. Uttam said that the RTC was incurring losses due to rising prices of fuel.

Following decrease in the prices of crude oil in the international market, fuel prices across the globe have come down. However, both BJP and TRS governments did not pass on the benefit to common people and instead, imposed various taxes to make petrol, diesel and LPG costliest in the world.

He said the State taxes on petroleum products were increased by five times after KCR came to power. The LPG cylinder, which used to cost about Rs 450 during UPA regime, is now costing around Rs 1,000. He said both Modi and KCR never held a review on how the rising fuel prices were ruining the lives of middleclass and poor people.

The TPCC Chief promised that the Congress party, when comes to power, would merge the RTC with the State government.

Further, all employees would be given pay scales and other benefits on par with State government employees. He said parents of RTC staff would be eligible to get old age pension and free treatment under Aarogyasri scheme. He also promised to accept all other demands of employees which he said were justified.

The TPCC chief further alleged that KCR had spent over Rs 500 crore of public money to construct a palatial bungalow of 1 lakh sq ft for himself and his family. However, he neglected the RTC citing shortage of funds as the reason.

The meeting was also addressed by TDP leader and ex-MLA R Krishnaiah, TJMU leaders K Hanumanthu Mudiraj, DVK Rao, T Sudhakar and other leaders.