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

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday slammed Telangana Chief Minister K Chandra Sekhar Rao for not fulfilling the demands of the protesting Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees and alleged that the "head of the government has lost grip on the state". "BJP believes that CM K Chandra Sekhar Rao both as head of the government and as people's leader has lost grip on the state. KCR's multiple deadlines are not working with 48,000 RTC employees on strike. The last one which expired yesterday midnight was the third one in the last 32 days. It is a huge loss of face for KCR," stated BJP state unit spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao in a letter.

READ | "TSRTC Strike Will Definitely Continue," Says JAC President Reddy

BJP's attack comes after KCR's office warned the striking TSRTC staff that they will not be taken back if they fail to resume duty by November 5. Further venting anger at the ruling TRS government, the letter stated, "It is evident that people of Telangana have lost respect for his statements, warnings and deadlines. They have lost trust, reliability and are openly denouncing his decisions. BJP feels, this is the beginning of the eventual downfall of CM KCR and his party TRS. It is also time for senior administrative officers to give up on CM KCR. We are very confident that it will happen sooner than later." Krishna Saagar Rao also accused the KCR government of forcing state officials to "manufacture lies, manipulate documents and misrepresent facts."

READ | TSRTC Strike: Only 400 RTC Employees Resumed Duties Post CM's Warning

Allegation of perjury

"With High Court summoning the state chief secretary and other senior IAS officials to be physically present for the court proceedings on November 7, there's a big possibility of a serious and impactful order by the high court against the state government. It is almost established by open statements made by the honourable judges of the High Court in the last few proceedings that even senior officers are being forced to manufacture lies, manipulate documents and misrepresent facts," the letter read. "This has been a regular practice in KCR's governance throughout and now the officers certainly understand that in this case they stand totally exposed. What the senior administrative officers have been doing with the High Court amounts to perjury and if proven can lead them straight to jail," the letter further claimed.

READ | BJP Protests Over KCR's Plans To Privatise TSRTC Buses

Strike hits Telangana

The TSRTC strike has been active for the past few weeks now and they have been demanding the government to fulfill their 26 demands. Terming the strike as 'illegal', the government has clearly stated that the main demand to merge RTC with the government is not possible. The RTC Union approached the High Court and the case is still pending before the divisional bench.

(With ANI inputs)

READ | KCR: 'No Merger Of TSRTC With Telangana Government On Any Condition'