T-JAC Denies Withdrawing RTC Strike

The state government claimed that RTC employees have withdrawn from the strike, which entered its 22nd day on Monday.

The announcement was jointly made by Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana, RTC MD Prasad Rao and National Mazdoor Union's state president Syed Mahmood, at a media conference in Hyderabad. Botsa said that their deliberations with the NMU have succeeded, and that therefore, the strike has been withdrawn.

Prasada Rao claimed that RTC services in Telangana region would be resumed from Tuesday morning under tight police security. Elaborate security arrangements would also be made at all the bus depots.

NMU State President Syed Mahmood said that the decision to end the strike was made in view of the inconvenience being caused to the general public and the huge losses being suffered by the Corporation.

However, within minutes of this announcement, the RTC JAC and other Telangana leaders swung into action and denied reports of the withdrawal of the strike.

Telangana NMU Forum Convenor Ashok Dhama Reddy claimed that NMU president Mahmood was not empowered to decide on the withdrawal or the continuation of the strike. The decision rests solely with the RTC JAC, and so far, no such decision has been taken, he said.

He alleged that the state government was trying to split the employees' union by using "moles" like Mahmood.

Meanwhile, Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof. M Kodandaram clarified that the RTC strike would continue until the Centre announces its decision on a separate Telangana.

Similarly, talking to reporters in Adilabad, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhara Rao, too, denied reports of RTC employees withdrawing the strike. (INN)