Hyderabad: Employee unions protest for PRC and against CPS

Dharna Chowk: A united front of state employees, teachers, pensioners and employees of public sector companies conducted 'Chalo Assembly' protest here on Friday seeking implementation of PRC, revival of old pension system replacing CPS, implementation of minimum wage Act, regularisation of contract employees and other demands.

A large number of employees gathered at Indira Park to stage protest and tension prevailed as employees who tried to take a rally to assembly were arrested by police. Some women employees were forcefully evicted from the venue by women police.

Speaking on the occasion, various leaders of employee association condemned dictatorial policies of the ruling party.

They alleged that the government was suppressing dissenting voices, citing the government handling of 55-day strike by RTC employees. Whenever employee associations called for protest programme, their leaders were arrested by the government to prevent them from participating in protests, they alleged. They also condemned brutal lathi-charge of ABVP students who were demanding increased budget allocations for education sector.

Employee leaders expressed unhappiness over delay in fulfilling various promises made by the CM KCR during his meeting with representatives of various employee and teacher unions held on May 16, 2018. A promise was made to implement PRC by August 15, 2018, but it was not implemented, they lamented.

Among those who were arrested on the occasion were G Sadanandam Goud (STU), Chava Ravi (TSUTF), E Raghunandan (TPTF), Srinivasulu, K Krishnudu, municipal employees association leader Paladugu Bhaskar, retired teachers association leaders G Krishnaiah, Venkataiah, all pensioner association leader Krishnamurthy, Lakshman Naik, Bala Swamy, Ashok Kumar Reddy and others. Arrested leaders were shifted to various police stations and Goshamahal Stadium.