Hyderabad, 18 December 2024 (Patriotic Views) : BRS MLAs and MLCs staged a powerful protest today, rallying from the MLA Quarters to the Telangana Assembly in solidarity with auto drivers across the state. The leaders, led by BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), traveled to the Assembly in autos while wearing driver uniforms to highlight the Congress government’s failure to fulfill promises made to auto drivers during the elections. Speaking to the media outside the Assembly, KTR launched a scathing attack on the Congress government for its negligence and broken promises. He emphasized the struggles of the state’s 8 lakh auto drivers and expressed concern over the rising number of suicides among the community.

KTR accused the Congress of betraying the trust of auto drivers. Despite promising financial aid and welfare measures, the government has taken no concrete action since coming to power. Referring to the tragic suicides of 93 auto drivers, KTR called the incidents “government-driven tragedies” and reminded the Assembly that during previous sessions, the BRS party submitted a list of deceased auto drivers, yet the government remains indifferent. “It is like rain falling on a plowing bull,” KTR remarked, criticizing the Congress’s apathy. He demanded urgent financial assistance for the families of auto drivers who died by suicide and urged the government to stop ignoring their plight and take responsibility for the promises it made. KTR called on the Congress to announce the ₹12,000 financial aid promised to auto drivers without delay and insisted on the immediate establishment of a Welfare Board for auto drivers to address their grievances and provide long-term support.

To demonstrate their commitment to the cause, BRS MLAs and MLCs symbolically traveled to the Assembly in autos and donned driver uniforms. KTR emphasized that the BRS party would continue to stand with auto drivers and fight for their rights. “The Congress government used auto drivers for election gains and has now forgotten their promises. We will not let them abandon the families and livelihoods of this community,” KTR said. Reaffirming the party’s solidarity with the auto drivers, KTR urged the government to act swiftly to prevent further tragedies. He appealed to auto drivers not to resort to extreme steps like suicide and assured them that the BRS party would fight tirelessly for their rights and welfare.

The BRS rally has brought renewed focus to the plight of Telangana’s auto drivers, putting pressure on the Congress government to fulfill its commitments and address the growing crisis in the sector.