KCR Calls Transport Staff Strike “Unpardonable Crime”; 48,000 Sacked
Declaring the indefinite strike by Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) unions illegal, the state government on Sunday rejected their demand for a merger with the government. According to an official release, the government also said there will be no further talks with the striking unions.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said employees who did not join their duties before the deadline (6 pm on Saturday) set by the government will not be taken back.
The stir by nearly 50,000 staff members entered the second day on Sunday with buses of the state-run TSRTC staying off the roads, affecting thousands during the festive season.
Different employees’ and workers’ unions of the TSRTC began an indefinite strike on Friday midnight across Telangana on a call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the TSRTC, demanding merger of the RTC with the government and recruitment to various posts, among other things.
Rao, who chaired a high-level review meeting, rejected the demand of TSRTC unions for a merger of the RTC with the government, the release said.
Transport Minister P Ajay Kumar and senior officials participated in the meeting. Rao said the RTC is incurring losses to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore and has Rs 5,000 crore debts coupled with the ever-rising diesel prices.
