Leaders and activists of the CPI(M) on Tuesday staged a dharna in front of the Pandit Nehru Bus Station in protest against what they called mortgaging of the bus station by the RTC authorities.
Addressing the protesters, party's city secretary Ch. Babu Rao said the CPI(M) would fight tooth and nail such “anti-people policies.” He accused the government of working on a well chalked out strategy to incapacitate the public sector unit.
Mr. Babu Rao said the corporation accumulated debts by purchasing buses under the JNNURM. It was unfair on its part to mortgage properties belonging to the divisions of the APSRTC, he said.
As the RTC was already in grip of a serious financial crisis, the government must come to its rescue by releasing adequate funds.
Citing the example of Bhaskarraopet in the city, he said hundreds of families were displaced from the area when RTC acquired land for construction of bus depot. He said attempts were also being made to mortgage the zonal workshop at Vidyadharapuram.
If the authorities concerned did not drop their plan, the party would be forced to intensify stir.
SFI protest
Party's city working committee members Donepudi Kasinadh, V. Gurumurthy, G. Nataraj, B. Satyababu, B. Nageswara Rao, and N. Prasad led the protest.
Meanwhile, the Krishnalanka police arrested leaders of SFI for protesting against failure of the RTC authorities to operate adequate number of buses for college students.
Students staged a dharna in front of the main gate of the bus station demanding that the authorities operate adequate number of buses and ensure their timely operation.
As a result, many buses could not move out of the depot. On receipt of information, the Krishnalanka police led by CI Govindarajulu rushed to the place and arrested student leaders T. Praveen and Madhav.
