Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs, led by BRS working president KT Rama Rao, staged a protest at Telangana Secretariat by dressing up as autorickshaw drivers to demand justice for the drivers in the state on Wednesday. The protest comes a day after BRS MLAs wore black clothes and handcuffs to Telangana Assembly in protest against the arrest of Lagacharla farmers.
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao said, "Our demand is that the Govt keeps up its word, forming a welfare board for the autorickshaw drivers, giving Rs 12,000 of subsistence per month and insurance and every aspect that was converted in their election manifesto has to be delivered immediately."
BRS MLAs alleged that the financial issues have driven 93 auto drivers to suicide. They called these deaths as "government murders".
The BRS leader stated that a list of auto drivers who died by suicide was presented during previous Assembly sessions, yet the state government remains indifferent. KTR urged the government to immediately support the families of the deceased auto drivers.
KTR alleged that the government which exploited auto drivers for electoral gains has forgotten its promises to them and demanded the immediate announcement of the Rs 12,000 financial aid promised to auto drivers, as per a report on IANS. He also called for the swift establishment of a welfare board for auto drivers. The former minister appealed to autorickshaw drivers not to resort to suicide, assuring them that the BRS party would continue to fight for their rights.