Fed up with the frequent bandhs, the transport sector ignored Saturday’s bandh call given by the OUJAC to oppose the appointment of Srikrishna Commission and terms and references announced by the UPA government.

Defying the bandh call, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operated its fleet as usual. Barring brand new buses introduced with the funds given under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the city region operated around 3,000 buses on Saturday.

The RTC also operated many buses in other parts of the Telangana region. Several petrol banks, shops and establishments remained open as well.

The city region, which incurs a loss of Rs 1.3 crore if it stops bus operation for one day, said it will face public ire with the frequent withdrawal of services owing to bandh calls.“The AP High Court had recently told the state government not to withdraw bus services even if a bandh was observed,” said a source in the RTC.

TRS leaders alleged that the government used excessive police force to ensure that the bandh flops. The TRS city leader, Mr Kattela Srinivas Yadav, alleged that around 70 leaders in the city were arrested on Friday night itself to give an impression that people were fed up with bandhs.

“Police officials harassed me and other leaders for the more than five hours so that we would not participate in the bandh. It is unfair to prevent us from expressing our protest,” said Mr Yadav. “Telangana’s people will not tolerate such harassment,” he added.

TRS leaders also burnt effigies of UPA government leaders protesting the appointment of the Srikrishna commission.
Courtesy : DC