Talasani Srinivas Yadav calls out Congress govt’s alleged RTC privatisation bid

BRS leader Talasani Srinivas Yadav accused the Congress government of attempting to privatise TGSRTC and ignoring workers’ demands. He urged immediate action on pending issues, criticised private electric buses, and asked RTC employees to continue their agitation

Hyderabad: BRS deputy floor leader Talasani Srinivas Yadav on Thursday accused the Congress government of attempting to privatise the TGSRTC and weaken the public transport system. He said the government’s policies were putting at risk the future of the 92-year-old organisation.

Speaking at a massive protest by RTC workers at the Ranigunj depot in Secunderabad, Srinivas Yadav asserted that the workers’ demands were genuine and must be addressed immediately to end the ongoing strike. He criticised the introduction of electric buses under private operators, alleging that RTC depots, including Ranigunj and Gowliguda, had been handed over to private firms. He questioned the hiring of drivers from other States and demanded that existing RTC employees be allowed to operate the new electric buses.

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The former Minister recalled that RTC workers played a key role in the Telangana statehood movement and that their contribution cannot be ignored. He accused the Congress government of failing to honour its promise to merge RTC employees into government service and implement PRC benefits.

“The previous BRS government had approved a proposal to merge RTC employees into government service. The Congress, which came to power promising to implement it, has abandoned it,” he said, asking the government to implement the merger without delay. He also demanded immediate rollout of pending Pay Revision Commissions and clearance of dues to retired staff.

Alleging financial irregularities, Srinivas Yadav questioned payments to private operators on a per-kilometre basis even without passengers. He also challenged the government to publicly disclose details of the 29 out of 32 demands it claims to have accepted. He urged the protesting workers not to settle for partial assurances.

Speaking to mediapersons later, he rejected allegations that the strike was politically instigated and urged workers to continue their agitation until their demands are fulfilled. He also condemned attempts to intimidate RTC staff, pointing to the police threatening tent houses against providing logistical support to the protesting workers.