KCR trying to suppress workers' rights: Uttam

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President and Nalgonda MP Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy described the announcement made by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao dismissing over 48,000 RTC employees as un-democratic and un-constitutional.

Strongly reacting to the KCR's move, Uttam Kumar Reddy, in a media statement on Monday, alleged that the Chief Minister was trying to suppress the voice and rights of employees and common people. He advised the employees of all government departments to be cautious with the Chief Minister. He slammed KCR for calling RTC strike illegal. He said Telangana State would not have become a reality if RTC staff would not have gone on strike during statehood movement. He reminded that KCR had praised the same RTC staff when they went on strike during Telangana agitation. He advised people to watch the old video clip of KCR wherein he supported the demands of RTC employees. However, he said KCR has changed his stand after coming to power.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Chief Minister had insulted the employees of the Revenue Department by comparing them with dog's tail while speaking in the Legislative Assembly. By doing so, he alleged that KCR had tried to black mail the Revenue Dept employees. He also criticised the Chief Minister for his proposed move to do away with the system of Village Revenue Officers (VROs). He said KCR did not learn to respect the government employees.

The TPCC President advised the unions of different government departments not to get intimidated with the dictatorial attitude of CM KCR and continue their struggle for the rights of workers in a democratic manner. He said that the Congress party would continue its support to the employees in all their struggles.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that India was world's largest democracy where every citizen has his/her own rights. He said fundamental rights of all citizens must be protected. He urged the State Government to hold talks with the RTC unions to resolve the matter by accepted all the justified demands of workers. He said common people were suffering due to the arrogant attitude of TRS Government. He also asked the Congress cadre to support the RTC workers in their agitation and participate in the hunger strike to express solidarity.