‘’Call off your strike. We will continue your fight for Samaikyandhra politically.” This was the assurance given by ministers to striking APNGOs.
The same message is expected to be conveyed by chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy when he holds talks with government employees on Wednesday. If the agitating APNGOs are convinced that the Congress continues the movement, there is a possibility of calling off their strike after October 9. APNGOs were on indefinite strike from August 13 opposing the division of the state.
With the pressure from the Congress high command to restore normalcy and end the employees’ strike, the Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy held talks with APNGOs at the Secretariat here on Monday.
The finance minister assured the APNGOs president P Ashok Babu that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) under the leadership of chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has decided to oppose the Telangana Bill or resolution when it comes for a debate in the state Assembly. ‘’We are fighting against the T-Bill. You call off your strike and give politicians a chance to carry forward the fight against the division,” Ramanarayana Reddy is reported to have told the APNGOs.
However, the employees said that they would not discuss the strike issue with the GoM but only with the chief minister and call off the strike, if Kiran Reddy gave a categorical assurance. The finance minister said that the chief minister would meet the APNGOs on Wednesday.
“We took the decision to oppose the resolution in the Assembly under the leadership of the chief minister,” Anam told the APNGOs. It is learnt that the Congress high command asked the chief minister to ensure normalcy returned to Seemandhra.
Anam told the APNGOs that when government employees lead the movement, anti-social elements would take advantage and create violence. “Congress is no less to any party in voicing Samaikyandhra slogan,” he tried to impress the employees.
Speaking to reporters later, Anam ruled out replacing the chief minister. ‘’I am not in the race for the post. Neither Pithani Satyanarayana or N Raghuveera Reddy are in the race. We are working under Kiran Reddy and face 2014 elections under him only,” Anam clarified.
“We will attend talks with the chief minister on Wednesday,” APNGOs president Ashok Babu said.
Meanwhile, the government has also decided to invite APSRTC and power staff for talks with the chief minister.