TSRTC bus strike enters fourth day

The indefinite strike by unions of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) continued for the fourth day on Tuesday even asChief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao termed the agitating staff as being "self-dismissed".

With nearly 50,000 employees boycotting duties and state-run buses staying off roads, commuters specially Dasara travellers faced problems, though the RTC said it has taken measures to ensure that passengers needs are fulfilled and they do not suffer and around 11,000 vehicles including buses were being operated.

The RTC said it was constantly reviewing and monitoring the situation.

Different employees and workers unions of TSRTC began an indefinite strike from October 5 across Telanganaon a call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of TSRTC, demanding merger of the RTC with the government, recruitment to various posts,among others.

Taking a tough stand on the RTC unions strike, the Chief Minister had also made it very clear that under no circumstances the RTC will be merged into the government.

According to an official release, after a review meeting on Monday,KCR, as the Chief Minister is also referred to as, had said: "From the point of view of the government and RTC, the employees are only 1,200. There is no need for the government to dismiss others. Nobody dismissed anybody. They left all by themselves."
BJP Telangana State chief spokesperson, K Krishna Saagar Rao in a release said the party "strongly believes that there's a well thought-out plan behind the brazenness of dismissing 48,000 employees of RTC byKCR."