Bandh in Telangana marks Day 15 of transport strike, cabs off the road too

A state-wide bandh called by the striking transport employees in Telangana disrupted normal life across Hyderabad and several other districts on Saturday (October 19). Besides, over 50,000 cabs have also gone off the roads due to an independent strike called by the Ola and Uber drivers, reports said.

According to the transport union, the Ola and Uber drivers are demanding regularisation of the cab aggregator market, reported NDTV. Meanwhile, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees have also been pressing various demands, including merger of the corporation with the state government.

The 12-hour bandh is being observed a day after the Telangana High Court directed the TSRTC and employees’ unions to hold talks and settle all disputes before October 28.

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Meanwhile, the agitation by the TSRTC employees, which has badly affected bus services across the state, entered the 15th day on Saturday. The RTC has been operating services with temporary drivers and conductors, reported news agency PTI.

As per RTC sources, bus services were being operated in consultation with district Collectors and Superintendents of Police in view of the bandh.

Reports further said that all major opposition parties have announced plans to organise protests during the day. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) claimed its leaders were shifted to different police stations when they tried to stage protests at the Jubilee bus station on Saturday morning.

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Besides political parties, state government employees, trade unions, sections of advocates and student unions have extended their support to the bandh.

Different employees and workers unions of TSRTC began the indefinite strike from October five across Telangana on a call given by the Joint Action Committee of RTC, demanding the corporation’s merger with the government and recruitment to various posts, among others.

Ruling out discussions with the agitating unions, the TRS-led government had termed the stir as “illegal” as it caused immense inconvenience to the public. Since the strike began on October 5, two employees have ended their lives and three attempted suicide.

(With inputs from agencies)