T’gana bus driver attempts suicide; Oppn protests

HYDERABAD: A driver of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), who had been on strike along with other staff and workers, allegedly attempted suicide by setting himself ablaze in his house here on Saturday.

T Srinivasa Reddy was reportedly upset with the announcement made by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) that there was no chance of talks with the striking staff.

He suffered 90% burns and his condition was critical.

Pradesh Congress committee president and MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy blamed it on the adamant attitude of the TRS government in resolving the crisis.

“I appeal to RTC employees to not take to extreme steps. The Congress will fight till the government gives in,” he said.

The BJP has also condemned the alleged mishandling of the situation. Party spokesman K Krishna Sagar Rao warned the TRS government of serious consequences.

Opposition parties have called for a series of protests culminating in a state-wide bandh on October 19. On his part, chief minister KCR has extended Dasara vacations for educational institutions till October 19 to enable the RTC authorities to make alternative transport arrangements for students.

The CM said that salaries for the month of September would be paid only to those who had returned to their duty by the evening of October 5.

That would mean that those on strike would not get their salaries despite having worked the month of September. Leaders of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), Congress, TDP and Telangana Jana Samithi held a meeting with RTC’s joint action committee and finalised a series of protests for the next week.

Activities planned for the coming week include dharnas at bus depots, joint rally by other government employees and state bandh on October 19.

T SRINIVASA REDDY WAS REPORTEDLY UPSET THAT THE CM HAD RULED OUT TALKS WITH THE STRIKING STAFF