At a time when the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government in Telangana headed by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is under attack from all sides for his dictatorial attitude towards the striking RTC employees, the Andhra Pradesh government headed by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy seems to be adding fuel to the fire.
The Telangana RTC employees are demanding their merger with the state government as was done in Andhra Pradesh which has declared the APSRTC employees as state government employees, causing much embarrassment to KCR.
As if creating more embarrassing to KCR, the YSRC government on Friday announced the process for merger of APSRTC with the government.
Jagan has constituted a six-member committee with bureaucrats from various departments to examine and suggest the modalities for merger of APSRTC establishment with the AP government.
Principal Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Department has been appointed as Chairman to the Committee.
The other members of the Committee including Principal Finance Secretary to Government (PFS), Finance Department, Secretary to Government (Services), General Administration Department, Secretary to Government, Public Enterprises Department, Secretary to Government, Law Department and Executive Director (Admn.), APSRTC as member convener.
The Committee has been asked to complete the process and to submit their report to Government by November 30, 2019.
The Committee asked to evolve a methodology for creation of Public Transport Department (PTD) in Government of AP to facilitate merger of establishment of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) employees into government of AP.
Needless to say, it is like rubbing salt on the wounds of the Telangana RTC employees, who are already hurt with the adamant attitude of the KCR government. Now, they have one more point to raise to defend their agitation!