Appealing to the RTC workers to withdraw their five-day-old strike, Telangana Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy today said he would take up their issue with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to find a solution soon.
Rejecting 43 per cent fitment being sought by the RTC workers, Nayani said the Road Transport Corporation was an autonomous body and the employees were not the government employees. During a discussion with TMU and EU leaders — Ashwathama Reddy and Thomas Reddy at the Ministers Quarters here, he rejected the demand of 43 per cent fitment sought by the RTC workers.
Speaking to mediapersons later, the Home Minister clarified that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao never said he would offer fitment to the RTC workers on par with government employees. “We will make an announcement after taking up the issue with the Chief Minister. However, the government, which offered 27 per cent fitment was ready to increase salaries of the RTC crew”, he maintained.
Narsimha Reddy said the Cabinet Sub-Committee, comprising himself, Finance Minister Etela Rajendar and Transport Minister Mahender Reddy, took stock of the situation and would talk to the Chief Minister. He also said they have directed the police to refrain from filing cases against those who damaged the RTC buses. “Let us not damage the buses and incur losses to the corporation”, the Home Minister appealed. “The RTC employees are our brothers and the government will protect the Corporation. This is the aim of the Chief Minister,” he said, adding they would consider just demands. (NSS)