Telangana Bandh On Oct 19 In Support Of RTC Strike

To mount pressure on the Telangana government to merge the TSRTC with itself, TSRTC union leaders and opposition parties today declared a Telangana bandh on October 19.

In a meeting held at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram, a decision was taken to call for the bandh, and to precede it with a series of protests programs at bus stations and depots from October 13 to October 18.

The protest programs would be vanta varpu on October 13, public meetings and protests at bus depots on October 14, raasta rokos and manava harams on October 15, a students' rally on October 16, "dhoom dhaam" on October 17 and a bike rally on October 18.

TJS President M Kodandaram chaired the meeting. Those present were TDP leader Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, former MP and senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao, CPM Secretary Thammineni Veerabhadram, TSRTC JAC leader Thomas Reddy, representatives of some "people's organizations" and others.

The State government meanwhile today once again ruled out the merger demand. KCR in fact vowed not even to take back into service the striking staff.

The TSRTC strike entered its eighth day on Saturday.