RTC Employees Defy HC Orders, Continue Strike

Defying the orders of the Hyderabad High Court to end the strike immediately, about 1.20 lakh employees of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) continued their strike in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for the fifth day, on Sunday.

The striking employees staged protests before various bus depots and stations across the two states. At the Suryapet bus depot in the Nalgonda district, the employees staged a semi-nude protest and were later taken into custody by the police. In Kukatpally, the RTC staff protested by adorning flowers over their ears. At other places, they prevented the management from plying buses using contract drivers and conductors.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the Telangana Mazdoor Union and the Employees Union called on Finance Minister Etela Rajender and Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy seeking a resolution of their problems. TMU President Ashwathama Reddy complained against the attitude of the RTC Managing Director N Sambasiva Rao. He accused the officials of misleading the state government, and claimed that payment of 43% fitment would not burden the government.

The ministers urged the union leaders to end the strike immediately. They assured the latter that they would apprise Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of their concerns.

Speaking to media persons later, the Home Minister said that the unions had been asked not to cause any damage to any RTC property, and that the police personnel too had been directed not to register cases against the striking employees.

The union leaders also met Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy, who asked them to withdraw the strike as per the directions of the High Court. (INN)