The agitation by RTC employees turned violent with scores of them clashing with the police at the Hanamkonda bus stand here on Friday.
On the third day of strike, hundreds of striking workers came in a procession with the effigy of RTC MD. Even as the police tried to prevent them from entering into the bus stand, they remained unrelenting. The police snatched away the effigy and pushed them away.
The employees both the men and the women were thrown off the ground resulting in minor bruises to some. A total of 12 women employees suffered minor injuries and they were shifted to the MGM Hospital for treatment.
The procession was led by TDP legislator Errabelli Dayakar Rao which added to the tension as he engaged in a verbal duel with the police.
He said that Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao had promised to look into the issue, but was now evading his responsibility. “The RTC employees stood in the forefront of separate Telangana agitation and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao promised to raise their salaries on par with the other government employees. The State government should immediately sort out the issue,” he demanded.
Mr. Dayakar Rao said he would stage a demonstration at the Chief Minister’s office in support of the RTC employees’ soon.
Nalgonda Staff Reporter writes: The strike turned violent in the district as some unidentified persons threw stones on a bus, resulting in injuries to two women passengers near Raigiri of Bhongir mandal.
The women passengers were shifted to Bhongir area hospital for treatment. The doctors said that their condition is stable.
Speaking to The Hindu , Yadagirigutta depot manager, M. Lakshminarasimha, said that they have operated nine services from Yadgirigutta depot on Friday with the help of contract staff.
Meanwhile, the employee union leaders burnt the copies of Namaste Telangana near Nalgonda bus station alleging that the management did not publish their views.
Despite RTC management’s efforts to operate buses with the help of contract staff, most of them were confined to depots.
Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: For the first time after the formation of Telangana, slogans raised against Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao in Gajwel constituency headquarters on Friday.
“During elections, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had promised to hike salaries on par with government employees. Even Mr. Harish Rao, president of the recognised union, is not showing any interest in addressing the issue,” alleged the employees.
Meanwhile, Chandraiah, an RTC conductor, made a self-immolation bid at Zaheerabad. He was immediately shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Cases booked
In a related development, the Siddipet police have registered three cases against 10 employees for preventing officials from performing their duties.
Hold consultations
Karimnagar Staff Reporter adds: The Karimnagar Consumer’s Council has urged the State government to resolve the RTC crisis by holding consultations with employee unions. Council members said the private taxi and bus operators are exploiting the situation by charging extra money from travellers.
