Hyderabad: TR Sriniwas slams KCR over insensitive comments on suicides by TSRTC employees

The Chairman of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Hyderabad Gulf Coordination Committee, TR Sriniwas on Sunday, November 17, slammed Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao over his 'insensitive comments' on the issue of suicides by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees. According to Sriniwas, "It is very unfortunate that CM KCR has to resort to such lowly statements like 'I didn't tell them to die'. This is an outright insult to the departed souls who were standing by shoulder to shoulder with CM KCR during the formation of Telangana."

Slamming KCR

According to reports, TR Sriniwas stated that "All hopes of the TSRTC employees have been bashed. Their increase in salary has been denied due to the ego trip of CM KCR and his stubborn attitude." He further added that KCR's "ego and attitude is hardening the stance of the people of Telangana. This is evident in the stiff resistance his MLAs and MPs face when they are visiting their constituencies."

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Over 20 deaths of TSRTC employees reported

On November 15, another RTC employee passed away after suffering a mental shock. According to reports, the deceased, identified as P Nageshwar, had suffered a mental shock after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s announcement to dismiss all striking RTC employees if they did not return to work by November 5. Following the incident, the Government announced ex gratia and a house for the family of the deceased. Another TSRTC driver allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday in Mahabubabad district as the indefinite stir by the employee' unions entered the 40th day. A Naresh (45), consumed a poisonous substance at his house in the wee hours and was rushed to a hospital where he died without responding to treatment, police said. According to reports, more than 20 TSRTC employees have lost their life due to suicide or heart attacks. 

Read: Hyderabad: Section 144 CrPC imposed in wake of 'Bus Roko' call by TSRTC employees

About the strike

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) strike has been going on over a month now. The employees started a strike on October 5. The Transport Corporation Joint Action Committee has been demanding for the merger of the Regional Transport Committee with the Telangana government. They are also asking for the prohibition of electric buses. According to reports, ever since the beginning of the strike, more than 2,000 busses have remained grounded in the State. After the TSRTC employee, Srinivas Reddy, who died after allegedly immolating himself, protests also broke out in different parts of the city and other places, with employees raising slogans and holding the state government responsible for his death.

Almost 15 TSRTC employees were taken into custody on Saturday, November 16, when they were protesting in front of Farooq Nagar bus depot in Telangana. The RTC joint action committee has called for a 'bus roko' protest in Telangana. Section 144 has also been imposed in the State. 

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Read: BJP on TSRTC strike: 'Telangana CM KCR has lost grip on state'

(WITH AGENCY INPUTS)