Fasting unionist shifted to hospital, as TSRTC stir continues

The indefinite strike by transport employees in Telangana entered the 44th day on Sunday even as police foiled the fast of a top union leader.

The 'hunger strike' of the TSRTC (Telangana State Road Transport Corporation) employees unions joint action committe convenor E Ashwathama Reddy was picked up from his house, taken in a police vehicle and admitted to a state-run hospital for treatment, police said.

Ashwathama, who had begun the hunger strike on Saturday, said he would, however, continue his fast.

Similarly, another TSRTC JAC leader Raji Reddy was taken into custody from his house.

Striking workers raised slogans against the government over the police action.

In a related development, police thwarted the proposed Maha Deeksha at Indira Park by Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) in support of TSRTC workers and took several activists, including the organisation's chief Manda Krishna Madiga and leaders of different organisations and striking workers, into preventive custody from different places.

Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar on Saturday said permission was denied to MRPS to hold any dharna at Indira Chowk.

Nearly 48,000 employees had boycotted work and begun the strike from October 5on a call by the JAC of TSRTC employees' unions,demanding merger of the RTC with the government, pay revision and recruitment to various posts, amongothers, resulting in buses staying off road, causing inconvenience to commuters.

The employees continued the protests on Sunday across the state and held fasts.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier said under no circumstances would the RTC be merged with the government and said the stir was illegal as they caused inconvenience to the public.

The state government has made alternative arrangements and engaged the service of temporary drivers and conductors to operate buses.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Sunday said the strike was a state government issue.

However, he said, "The government should give up its stubborn stance and hold talks with the employees."