Uttam Kumar Reddy, the President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC,) met Nitin Gadkari, the Transport Minister of India, regarding the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) strike issue.
After the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) refused to let the TSRTC employees rejoin duty, Uttam Kumar Reddy met Nitin Gadkari and urged him to intervene in the matter and resolve it.
Uttam Kumar Reddy was accompanied by Members of Parliament (MPs) Komatireddy Venkatreddy (Bhongir) and A. Revanth Reddy (Malkajgiri.)
Mr. Reddy spoke about the attitude of K. Chandrashekar Rao, the Chief Minister of Telangana and Sunil Sharma, the Managing Director (MD) of the TSRTC, towards the RTC employees.
During the meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy asked Nitin Gadkari to resolve the issue and give justice to the RTC employees. He said since the Central Government owns 33 % of the TSRTC, the Central Government must protect the employees who are suffering because of KCR and his Government.
Uttam Kumar said approximately 48,800 employees served the TSRTC for a long time, therefore, the Central Government should take steps for the benefit of the employees. He said as many as 40 RTC employees died of cardiac arrest and many committed suicide as they could not bear the severity of the situation.
Nitin Gadkari responded positively and said he would look into the matter and conduct a meeting on the 28th of November regarding the same.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “The Chief Minister’s directions to the RTC management not to take back the employees only shows his cruelty, inhuman attitude and vindictiveness which is rarely seen in public life in India. What is the CM trying to do? Is he trying to drive nearly 50,000 families to suicide?” He further said, “The CM not only failed to fulfil this (employment) promise but now he is removing existing jobs of RTC employees.”
The TSRTC strike issue has been continuing for 53 days. On the 5th of October, the TSRTC leaders went on a strike with a few demands. However, on the 26th of November, the TSRTC called off the strike and requested the State Government to take them back as employees. Though the TSRTC dropped all the demands, the TRS Government is not ready to take them back and even privatised 5,100 bus routes in the State.
The TRS and the TSRTC authorities said they would organise a Cabinet meeting to discuss the issue, but until then, the employees are not allowed to rejoin duty.
The Cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held on the 28th and 29th of November.
Stay tuned for further updates.
