Hyderabad: RTC JAC Convenor Ashwathama Reddy, at a meeting with all parties, today criticized the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for adopting oppressive tactics against striking unions and employees and ruining their future by a plan to privatize the RTC. He said that the RTC JAC and political parties will conduct “Sakala Janula Samarabheri” with 5 lakh workers and people on October 30 to pressurize the government for conceding their demands. He reiterated that the strike will continue. He announced the action plan of protests, decided in the meeting held at Sundaraiah Vignan Kendra here, from October 21 to 30.
PM leader Thammineni Veerabhadram TTDP leader L Ramana, TJS Chief Prof Kodandaram and RTC JAC leaders attended the meeting and slammed the state government for adopting the dictatorial and adamant attitude.
The meeting discussed on the 16-day strike, government negligence to hold talks despite high court directions and Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan’s advice, the success of state bandh, future plans and striking impact.
Ashwathama Reddy lashed out at the KCR government for deliberately arresting 100 sanitation workers and causing wounded to the thumb of the New Democracy leader P Ranga Rao during state bandh protests yesterday.
Until the government comes down and holds talks our strike will continue, he said. He demanded the state government called for talks and resolve the crisis. Reddy also appealed to temporary drivers and conductors not to hit on their stomachs. He extended support to the Osmania University students agitation for extending solidarity to the RTC strike.
He announced the action plan as follows: holding protests with family members at bus depots on October 21, appealing temporary drivers, conductors against temporary work- 22, meeting peoples’ representatives for support — 23, women conductors sit-in — 24, rasta rokos on national highways — 25, sit-in with children of RTC staff demanding that Govt should change its attitude– 26, protest sit-in for salary denial on Deepavali festival– 27, arguments in court — 28 and Sakala Janula Samarabheri with 5 lakh workers and employees on October 30.
