Telangana RTC strike: Pawan Kalyan joins chorus and backs employees, but KCR unmoved

Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan joined opposition parties in their chorus against the TRS government over the indefinite strike of over 48,000 employees of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). On Thursday, Ahwathama Reddy, a leader of the Joint Action Council (JAC), a group of TSRTC employee unions that are leading the strike, along with few others met Pawan Kalyan in Hyderabad in the presence of Jana Sena Telangana unit in-charge Shankar Goud seeking his intervention to solve the issue. Frustrated by the turn of events, four employees have taken their own lives while a few have died due to a stroke, according to TSRTC JAC. Following discussions with JAC leaders Pawan promised "complete support" to the future course of action by JAC. Speaking to media, Pawan has urged CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to create a cordial atmosphere to hold dialogue with employees and solve their demands. He said, "I will make effort for an appointment with CM KCR for two days. We will put forward the 24 demands." He further added, "In case we don't get an appointment with the CM, we would give complete support for the TSRTC labourers leaders further action plan." It may be recalled that days after TSRTC unions began the strike, Pawan urged CM KCR and TSRTC unions to arrive at an "amicable solution" through the process of dialogue. KCR unmoved despite criticism Congress, BJP and Left parties along with civil society organisations have joined  in support of the protesting RTC employees. TSRTC employees have gone on indefinite strike stressing as many as 26 demands which includes merger of the RTC with the state government. However, over four weeks there has been no progress towards resolving the issue with government going on its stand. Telangana High Court has intervened multiple times into the matter asking the state government and RTC employees unions to resolve the matter. Earlier while hearing a petition over non-payment of salaries to striking employees , the HC pulled up the government over non-payment of salaries for the month of September. Despite protests from opposition parties and interventions by the High Court, the government seems to be unmoved. Earlier Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the wake of  the strike said that his government would  go ahead with his proposed plan of privatising the public transport system.  According to reports as many as 4,000 bus routes would be given to private parties as per the CM's trifurcation model which includes privatisation. Read :Explainer: Why 4 RTC employees have died and 48,000 are on strike in Telangana