Justifying the stir by about 48,000 employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, leaders of various political parties and civil society organisations on Wednesday said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao should focus on resolving issues raised by the agitating staff.
The union leaders of TSRTC held a Roundtable with leaders of various political parties and civil society groups at the Hyderabad Press Club.
The indefinite strike by unions of RTC continued for the fifth day on Wednesday even as Chandrasekhar Rao termed the agitating staff as being "self-dismissed".
The employees undertook protests at many places across the State.
The CPM party held a protest rally in the city in the name of "Save RTC."
Finding fault with the KCR's firm stand against the agitation, Telangana BJP MLC N Ramachander Rao said the government should not have profit motive but service-oriented.
"Government is not for (doing) business. It is for public service and public welfare. This government should keep that in mind and work," Ramachander Rao said.
Senior Telugu Desam Party leader Ravula Chandrasekhar said privatisation of some of the routes being operated by the RTC was a bad idea and earlier a Chief Minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh had to step down as he tried to do the same.
CPM Telangana secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, Telangana Jana Samithi chief Kodandaram and retired High Court Judge B Chandra Kumar were among the leaders who participated in the Roundtable.
With nearly 48,000 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 have been fulfilled and they did not suffer with around 11,000 vehicles including buses 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 Telangana on a call given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the corporation, 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, the Chief Minister 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."
However, Telangana Mazdoor Union president E Ashwathama Reddy said the government's decision to sack about 48,000 agitating employees, would be challenged as and when they are served with dismissal notices.
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