Telangana RTC driver dismissed for remarks at Congress petrol-price dharna
Synopsis
A Telangana RTC bus driver was dismissed after a Congress leader complained he criticised party members at a petrol-price protest — but the driver says he only asked them to focus on farmer crop procurement. The episode has united the BRS and TRS in demanding reinstatement and raises pointed questions about political pressure on state transport machinery.
Key Takeaways
TGSRTC dismissed private hire bus driver Ashok on 26 May following a complaint by Congress Dharmapuri Mandal President C.
Ashok was driving the Jagtial–Dharmapuri route when he allegedly made remarks at a Congress dharna against petrol and diesel price hikes.
The driver denied criticising any party, saying he only urged protesters to prioritise cotton and maize procurement for farmers.
Harish Rao condemned the dismissal and pledged legal support for Ashok's family.
Kavitha warned of a formal protest if Ashok is not reinstated, calling the Congress government 'venomous'.
Opposition parties have collectively demanded immediate reinstatement , describing the action as authoritarian.
The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has dismissed a private hire bus (PHB) driver after he allegedly criticised Congress leaders who were staging a protest against the hike in petrol and diesel prices in Jagtial. The action against driver Ashok, taken on 26 May, has drawn sharp condemnation from opposition parties who are calling it an assault on democratic freedoms.
What Happened at Jagtial
Ashok was driving a hired bus on the Jagtial–Dharmapuri route on Monday when he reportedly made remarks directed at Congress leaders participating in a dharna near the RDO office, Warangal. State minister Adluri Laxman and several Congress MLAs were among those present at the protest.
According to Ashok, he was speaking with an acquaintance from his village who was part of the demonstration. He said he urged the person to prioritise the procurement of cotton and maize from farmers rather than focusing on fuel prices. He denied targeting any political party or leader, insisting his concern was solely for farmers whose produce remained unsold in warehouses.
How the Dismissal Came About
The Jagtial Depot manager wrote to PHB owner Chukka Venugopal, directing him to withdraw Ashok from PHB services with immediate effect. The letter cited a complaint by Congress Dharmapuri Mandal President C. Laxman, who alleged that Ashok had criticised Congress leaders staging the dharna.
This is a notable instance of a transport corporation acting on a political party's complaint against a contractual driver — a move that critics argue blurs the line between state machinery and party interest.
Opposition Backlash
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former minister T. Harish Rao condemned the dismissal, saying Ashok hails from a farming family and was simply advocating for crop procurement. Rao declared that the BRS would stand by Ashok's family and pursue legal remedies on his behalf.
Telangana Rakshana Samithi (TRS) leader K. Kavitha said the Congress, which championed democratic values while in opposition, was now undermining those very values in power. She quoted directly: 'Restoring democracy is the seventh guarantee. Does a people's government mean snatching the livelihood of those who question? That's why we're calling it a venomous government.' Kavitha warned that if Ashok is not reinstated, the TRS would stage a formal protest.
Opposition parties collectively demanded Ashok's immediate reinstatement, describing the dismissal as 'reprehensible' and a symptom of authoritarian governance.
What Comes Next
With the BRS threatening legal action and the TRS warning of street protests, the Telangana government faces mounting pressure to reverse the dismissal. The episode has amplified a broader debate about free speech for state-linked workers and the boundaries of political dissent in the state. Whether TGSRTC or the Congress-led government responds to the reinstatement demand will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
Not a formal disciplinary inquiry — is what makes this case troubling beyond its immediate facts. TGSRTC is a state entity; using its administrative machinery to act on a political party's grievance sets a chilling precedent for thousands of contractual workers who interact with public figures daily. The driver's own account, that he spoke about farmer crop procurement rather than party politics, has not been independently refuted. If the government does not reinstate Ashok or at minimum initiate a transparent inquiry, it risks validating the opposition's narrative that Congress in power behaves exactly as it accused its predecessors of behaving.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Telangana RTC driver Ashok dismissed?
Ashok was dismissed after Congress Dharmapuri Mandal President C. Laxman complained that he criticised Congress leaders staging a dharna against petrol and diesel price hikes near the RDO office in Warangal. The Jagtial Depot manager directed PHB owner Chukka Venugopal to withdraw Ashok from services with immediate effect.
What did driver Ashok actually say?
Ashok clarified that he was speaking with an acquaintance from his village who was part of the protest. He said he urged the person to focus on procuring cotton and maize from farmers rather than discussing fuel prices, and denied criticising any political party or leader.
Who has demanded Ashok's reinstatement?
Both the BRS and TRS have demanded immediate reinstatement. BRS leader T. Harish Rao pledged legal support for Ashok's family, while TRS leader K. Kavitha warned of street protests if the driver is not restored to his position.
What is the significance of this dismissal?
Critics argue it reflects the use of state transport machinery to act on a ruling party's complaint, raising concerns about free speech for workers in state-linked roles. Opposition parties have described it as authoritarian and called for the practice to end.
What happens next in the Ashok dismissal case?
The BRS has announced it will pursue legal action on Ashok's behalf, and the TRS has threatened a formal protest. The Telangana government and TGSRTC have not yet publicly responded to the reinstatement demands, making their next move the key development to watch.
