TSRTC strike: BJP slams KCR government for decision of 5,000 pvt buses

The Telangana unit of BJP has criticised the K Chandrashekar Rao-led state government on Saturday over its decisions taken regarding the strike of TSRTC employees. BJP has said the decisions by the KCR government has been done with "highly suspicious" intentions.

"BJP feels Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's statements amount to threatening the TSRTC employees who are on a legal strike. Bare minimum KCR could have done is to invite the union leaders for direct talks with him to resolve this month-long stand-off, instead, he openly threatened hapless employees," K Krishna Saagar Rao, chief spokesperson, Telangana BJP said in a statement.

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5,000 private buses to hit the roads

KCR led Telangana government has taken a decision to permit 5,000 private buses amid the ongoing strike by Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees that started on October 5. Rao has termed the KCR government's decision as "illegal and unilateral".

"He can't take decisions of this magnitude when 95 per cent of the TSRTC employees are on strike and there's no full-time Managing Director and Chairman for the corporation. BJP considers these decisions are taken in haste with intentions that are highly suspicious. Neither the TSRTC board has approved these decisions nor the employees were taken into confidence," he said.

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"It's a joke that the Chief Minister says that private operators will work under TSRTC control, BJP is not amused. His threat that if employees don't join back by November 5, they would no more be TSRTC employees and he will permit another 5,000 private buses highlights K Chandrashekar Rao's clear design to sell out TSRTC to his pet private enterprises in this pretext," Krishna Saagar Rao added.

"The height of K Chandrashekar Rao arrogance is to make these sweeping comments and take these hasty decisions when the entire matter is sub-judice and the honourable high court is due to pass an order on the November 7. BJP considers K Chandrashekar Rao actions constitute a challenge to High Court and an open insult to the judges, who are examining this case," the BJP leader said.

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KCR had given the striking employees time till November 5 to join back and added that there will be no merger of TSRTC with the state government. 

"On any condition, there is no merger of RTC with government, this is decided by the state cabinet. 5100 private buses permission is granted in the state. This strike is declared illegal by the labour commissioner. If any strike (is) declared illegal then employees and department relations do not exist. This agitation has started especially during the students' exams and festive season," KCR said.

(With ANI inputs)

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