RTC strike: Political parties vow to support stir

: Various political parties shared the dais here on Wednesday with unions of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, whose workers have been on an indefinite strike since October 5 over various demands, and pledged support to the stir.

TPCC Working President and MP Revanth Reddy, Telangana Telugu Desam Party President L Ramana, CPI State Secretary Chada Venkat Reddy, BJP leaders and former MPs Jithender Reddy and Vivek and Telangana Jana Samithi chief Kodandaram, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Revanth Reddy alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar completely let down the people of the state.

He said the VAT on diesel was increased after the TRS government came into power in 2014, imposing a Rs 700 crore additional burden on the ailing organisation.

Alleging that the Chief Minister was trying to break up the unity of the employees, Ramana demanded to know why RTC plunged into losses after Rao became chief Minister, compared to the time it showed profits when he was transport minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

Describing the employees' demands as justifiable, the CPI leader said most of them were aimed at ensuring the survival of the organisation.

JAC leader Ashwathama Reddy said the unions would request CPI's state Assistant Secretary K Sambasiva Rao to end his indefinite fast, which entered the fifth day on Wednesday.

The CPI leader went on fast at the party office here in support of the striking employees and was shifted to a state run hospital on October 28