RTC workers open to dialogue if invited by govt: JAC convener Aswathama Reddy

The striking TSRTC workers on Monday said they would be open to holding discussions with the State government over their demands after TRS, earlier in the day, asked the unions to call off their stir and hold talks.

The willingness for dialogue came from TSRTC Joint Action Committee (JAC) convener Aswathama Reddy. His reaction followed a statement from TRS secretary general K Keshav Rao who said things should not be allowed to get out of hand and that the State government was always considerate towards RTC workers’ demands.

Aswathama Reddy and his colleagues made it clear that they would not oppose Keshav Rao mediating between JAC and the government, and have the latter extend an invitation to the committee for talks.

Aswathama Reddy and other JAC leaders spoke to the media after meeting Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan at Raj Bhavan on Monday afternoon. He made it clear that the TSRTC unions would continue with their strike for now. 

He also condemned “deliberate attempts by some Ministers to incite RTC workers with their comments” and urged them to refrain from doing so. He further said: “The Ministers are twisting facts with



respect to the role of political parties in the strike. It was us who approached the parties and invited them for a roundtable meeting. The parties did not approach us with their support”.

He also contradicted the TGO and TNGO representatives, who on Sunday said RTC JAC leaders kept them waiting for two hours after scheduling a meeting. “We informed them well before noon, the scheduled time for the meeting, that we would not be able to attend as we were on our way to Khammam with the body of our colleague Srinivas Reddy who died on Sunday morning,” Aswathama Reddy said.

He also said there was no truth in the claims of TGO and TNGO leaders that TSRTC JAC did not seek their support. “We asked them for their support,” he said. “We met with the Governor and submitted a memorandum and all the information pertaining to the strike, our demands and our expectations. She responded positively and gave us a patient hearing,” he said.

Aswathama Reddy, along with JAC co-conveners Raji Reddy and VS Rao, appealed to the striking RTC workers not to resort to any drastic actions such as attempting to take their lives.