Bengaluru on September 2 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Karnataka on Friday demanded the resignation of the Minister of Transport Sriramulu in the connection with a string of suicides committed by employees of the state-owned transportation corporation.Three employees of Karnataka State Road Transport Corpration (KSRTC) have committed suicide claiming that they were tortured and tense recently.
Karnataka Unit AAP vice-president and retired IPS officer Bhaskar Rao said Sriramulu should resign since he is morally accountable for the suicide of three transport workers.
In a press conference held in the AAP office, Bhaskar Rao said: “Under the supervision of the minister of transportation Sriramulu corruption and illegal activities are happening all the time.
“Higher officials abuse subordinates, and the government of the ruling BJP government treats transport workers as if they are enemies.Sriramulu has not been successful in safeguarding the welfare of people, and he should step down from his position,” Rao said.
“The AAP has been protesting for a stern response to depot managers accountable for the suicide of more than 30 employees, yet there hasn’t been any action taken by the government” he said.
“Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Minister Sriramulu have been silent on the suicide of three people who committed suicide at Jigani, Banashankari and Channasandra depots.
The government has been so unresponsible in that it hasn’t compensated the families of transport workers who committed suicide and it is regrettable to learn that it has not paid any compensation to the hundreds of families of transport workers who died during the Covid pandemic,” he said.
Suresh Rathod AAP Bengaluru Unit Organising Secretary, stated: “Sriramulu, who has failed to revive the transportation department and defend the interests of employees, is not suited to remain in this position.CM Basavaraj Bommai should immediately remove Sriramulu from the cabinet.Even though Hole Basappa, the employee who committed suicide had written an anonymous suicide note to the depot manager The police are reluctant to act.”
“Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) president Nandish Reddy is accusing AAP for nothing and in order to conceal his mistake.This is evidence of his negligence, incompetence and bribery of his staff,” Rathod said.
He advised that if the government does not take action immediately the homes of the chief minister as well as transport minister could be taken over.
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