Scores of protesters took to the streets, staged sit-ins and raised slogans in solidarity with the striking staff of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation at the Bus Bhavan amid tight security.
The protest on Saturday enjoyed the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose State leadership arrived at the TSRTC headquarters and echoed the views of the TSRTC Joint Action Committee.
Addressing the sloganeering protesters, BJP State president K Laxman said that the struggle in the State is between ‘democracy and autocracy’.
Throwing the party’s weight behind the TSRTC JAC, he said that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government should heed the demands and merge the transport juggernaut with the State government.
“While MLAs and the Chief Minister have enjoyed on-time salaries, and the festival, RTC employees have been denied their salary and could not celebrate the festival,” he said as he criticised the TRS government for not entering into a dialogue with TSRTC JAC.
BJP leaders along with RTC JAC leaders stage a protest at the Bus Bhavan against the government's decision to dismiss the employees involved in the strike in Hyderabad on Saturday.
RTC land
Mr. Laxman alleged that the TRS was hand-in-glove with private players and is trying to privatise the TSRTC. He claimed that some elements want to ‘grab’ the TSRTC’s assets which run into thousands of crores.
“They gave 3.5 acres TSRTC land to a private party recently. Around ₹ 2,500 crore is pending in reimbursements. The MV (Motor Vehicle) tax is very high as are the taxes on diesel. The CM had promised to treat RTC employees on par with government employees but has not done this. We are firmly with the TSRTC JAC,” he said.
Throughout the protest, slogans such as ‘ Khabardaar , KCR’ and ‘KCR, taanashahi nahi chalegi’ were raised. Several BJP bunting carrying protesters staged a sit-in and blocked the roads towards the end of the stir. One of the protesters, carrying a BJP bunting, scaled the Bus Bhavan wall and climbed atop the security shelter. Police intervened and brought him down.
Laxman injured
Police detained Mr. Laxman and TSRTC JAC leaders such as Ashwathama Reddy and Raji Reddy. While Mr. Laxman said that he suffered injuries on account of police’s highhandedness and was taken to NIMS for treatment, the JAC leaders moved to Bollarum police station but were released in the evening.
“We have been demanding what is legitimate. Our strike is legal. Look at the salaries which the CM, executive directors and other management get. Compare our salaries with theirs,” Mr. Raji Reddy said after his release.
