Hyderabad, October 13: Strike by Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) employees entered the ninth day on Sunday. The employees took up Vanta Varpu (cooking on roads) programme in Yadagirigutta today to show their protest against the death of a driver of TSRTC, who set himself ablaze in Khammam on Saturday. According to reports, the driver poured kerosene and set himself afire on Saturday at Khammam RTC depot as the strike entered the eighth day. TSRTC Bus Strike: KCR Rules Out Talks With Transport Unions, Says 'Won't Tolerate Goondaism'.

The driver was identified as Srinivas Reddy His son was also injured while trying to save him. Reddy was immediately shifted to a hospital after he set himself ablaze. However, he succumbed to his injuries. TSRTC Strike: APSRTC Calls Strike in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday to Express Solidarity With Telangana Road Transport Corp Employees.

TSRTC Employees Took Up Vanta Varpu:

As TSRTC is operating buses with temporary staff, three incidents of attacks on temporary drivers occurred in Khammam. Striking employees and leaders of opposition parties staged protests, blaming Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government for the driver's attempted self-immolation.

Earlier in the day, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) ruled out talks with sacked employees of the TSRTC who have been on strike since October 4. He asserted that those who are on strike would not be taken back in service. The Chief Minister also directed the officials to ensure 100 percent TSRCT bus ply in the next three days.

On October 7, K Chandrasekhar Rao-led state government fired over 48,000 employees of the TSRTC. Rao had justified the action by calling it an "unpardonable crime". The KCR government’s decision drew flak from various political parties.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 13, 2019 08:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).