RTC JAC Seeks BJP Support, Vows To Intensify Stir

TSRTC JAC leaders Ashwatthama Reddy, Raja Reddy and others today called on Telangana BJP President K Laxman at the latter's office and sought his support to their strike which entered its 22nd day today.

Speaking on the occasion, Laxman said that the BJP was extending support to the RTC strike, and said that the government should hold talks with the JAC.

He also slammed Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for threatening the striking employees instead of holding talks with them, and accused the CM of conspiring to loot RTC assets worth thousands of crores of rupees.

Asking the JAC leaders to continue their protests in a democratic manner without succumbing to the threats of the State government, Laxman said that his party would take up the strike issue with the union government.

"We have already informed the Centre and our national leaders of the RTC strike and the serious situation in the State, and will keep updating our top leaders," Laxman said.

Also speaking after the meeting, JAC Convener Ashwatthama Reddy charged KCR with trying to disrupt the strike by threats.

Trying to justify the actions of the unions, Reddy alleged that the Chief Minister's statements were "hurting the sentiments" of the RTC workers.

"We will not succumb to the government's threats despite the Chief Minister insulting and intimidating the RTC workers," he said.

Asking why the government was not holding talks once again, he reiterated that the strike would continue till the employees' demands were met, and that the strike would in fact be intensified hereon. He said that on October 28 RTC workers would lay siege to all district collectorates, and that a "Sakala Janula Samarabheri" would be held at the Saroornagar stadium on October 30.

He also claimed that the Huzurnagar Assembly by-election had nothing to do with the RTC strike.