Advertisement

Updated October 19th, 2019 at 08:04 IST

TSRTC calls for statewide Bandh in Telangana on October 19

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has decided to go ahead with a statewide bandh on Saturday, October 19

Reported by: Varsha Chavan
TSRTC
| Image:self
Advertisement

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has decided to go ahead with a statewide bandh on Saturday. All opposition parties, people's organisations, and trade unions have declared support to the shutdown call. Telangana employees’ association, teacher unions, and student’s union will also be a part of the protest.

Adding to the woes of the common man, 80,000 cab drivers from Ola and Uber will also join the bandh who are demanding better working conditions and higher per-kilometer payout. The strike comes even as the High Court on Friday asked the State Government and union leaders to hold talks and submit a report based on it on October 28. 

READ | TSRTC Employees Blame The Government For Not Taking Any Action

The Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan too intervened in the matter and called on State transport minister P Ajay Kumar on Thursday to know the arrangements made to ease the difficulty caused to the commuters due to the strike.

High Court directs dialogue

According to the President of the TSRTC, Ashwathama Reddy, the Telangana High Court on October 15 heard both the versions of the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) workers, as well as the government. Reports state that the striking employees have been firm about continuing the strike until their demands are fulfilled. Reddy further stated that they have refused to hold talks with the government, however, the court has directed to hold talks and resolve the issues.

According to reports, the High Court has also ordered the striking employees to not let the normal public be affected due to the on-going issues. Further, sources to the agencies claimed that the State Government will be forming a committee including ministers and officials to hold talks with the RTC employees. 

READ | TSRTC Strike: Another Employee Hangs Self To Death Amid Mass Protests

The strike

The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees started a strike on October 5. The TSRTC has more than 50,000 employees which manage state-run buses across Telangana. According to reports, ever since the beginning of the strike, more than 2,000 busses have remained grounded in the State. After the TSRTC employee, Srinivas Reddy, who died after allegedly immolating himself, protests also broke out in different parts of the city and other places, with employees raising slogans and holding the State Government responsible for his death. Further, the employees are also blaming the government for not taking any action even after two TSRTC employees have died. 

READ | TSRTC Strike Intensifies, Employees Plan To Approach High Court

What are the demands of TSRTC employees? 

The Transport Corporation Joint Action Committee has been demanding for the merger of the Regional Transport Committee with the Telangana Government. The unions of TSRTC employees led by the joint action committee (JAC) have also demanded salary hikes alleging that there has been no revision of pay packages since 2017. They are also asking for the prohibition of electric buses. In addition, they have asked for the long-vacant positions to be filled up to bolster the fleet as well as the reduction of tax on diesel. 

READ | Telangana HC Directs State Govt, TSRTC Employees To Resolve Issues

Advertisement

Published October 19th, 2019 at 07:16 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

How to Keep Yourself Safe from Unhealthy Air?
a few seconds ago
TMC Delgation at ECI Office
11 minutes ago
Congress Press Conference
17 minutes ago
Raw Mango
18 minutes ago
Gen Z worker goes to the salon while “working from home”
20 minutes ago
Lionel Messi
21 minutes ago
Jailed Gangster Mukhtar Ansari Passes Away
23 minutes ago
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE
26 minutes ago
Tie-dye printed shirts
31 minutes ago
Sri Lanka on High Alert on Good Friday
32 minutes ago
Gautam Gambhir gets into a fight with Virat Kohli
33 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo