The leaders at APSRTC Samaikyandhra Karmika Sadassu here Wednesday announced that the striking RTC employees and workers would not withdraw from the agitation for united Andhra Pradesh till the Centre rolled back its announcement on formation of Telangana state. They also demanded that the state government take over the APSRTC immediately.
Addressing the meeting organised by APSRTC Vijayawada JAC, National Mazdoor Union (NMU) state general secretary Y Srinivas Rao held the state government responsible for the losses to the organisation due to the protests. The occupancy ratio (OR) increased to 95-100 per cent and even touched 110 per cent at times, but huge taxes imposed on diesel and others were causing losses to the corporation, he observed and added that they would put forth the ‘takeover’ demand during the talks with the government about Samaikyandhra strike.
About the rumours that the APSRTC staff would stop strike after September 30, he announced that they would continue the indefinite strike till the announcement on Telangana was revoked. The employees and workers would also fight for the Dasara bonus since it was their right, he added.
NMU state secretary Sk Subhani lamented that the APSRTC would be the worst-hit in the event of bifurcation and would not be able to pay salaries. The organisation was earning 80 per cent of its revenue by running services to Hyderabad alone, he explained.
Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samithi state convener A Vidyasagar announced that the APNGOs would fight for the takeover of APSRTC by the state government and fight for payment of salaries through 010 account.