KCR's deadline threat puts RTC workers in a dilemma

Hyderabad: The RTC JAC leaders seem to be caught in a fix as they were unable to decide on the next step to be taken as they have first declared of continuing their strike and later announced that they would be holding an emergency meeting on the strike and latest developments on Monday.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday had set a deadline for the RTC workers to join their duties before November 5 and also warned of privatising all the routes if they don't report before the deadline.

Reacting to this, the JAC leaders met here at the TMU office on Sunday morning even as some of the workers, including some drivers and conductors reporting to duties.

Talking to the media after the meeting, JAC convener E Ashwathama Reddy said that their strike would continue and also asked the workers to continue the strike without any fear.

"Some more issues have come out with the press conference of the Chief Minister. The CM did not give any assurance to the workers. This is the fourth deadline fixed by the CM.

The workers have not listened then and they will not listen even now because there is no assurance given to them. There is no assurance of talks and no word on solving demands of the workers... how can the workers join duties," he asked.

It appeared that the union leaders wanted to climb down a step as the JAC convener said that they were ready to wind up unions in the Corporation if the Chief Minister accepts all the demands of the workers.

The Chief Minister should disclose how he would solve the RTC issues after discussing with workers, he questioned. How can the Chief Minister call the strike illegal?

During the Telangana agitation, the same TRS chief had said that 'strike is strike and there is nothing like legal or illegal strike', he recalled.

The JAC convener called upon the workers to continue the strike without any fear stating that no one had right to dismiss the workers.

There may be a few who have joined duties but they are not even one per cent of the 48000 staff, said Reddy. Ashwatthama Reddy said that 73 per cent of bus routes were under losses.

He questioned as to why the private operators would come for the loss-making routes. He also recalled that Transport Minister P Ajay Kumar gave a statement in the Assembly that the government, including the GHMC, had to pay dues to the RTC.

He alleged that the Chief Minister was implementing the agenda of private operators. "The CM says that he will privatise remaining 5,000 routes if workers don't attend duties. How will he manage to run buses without 27,000 workers," he asked.