Telangana RTC Driver Faces Suspension Over Remarks on Delayed Paddy Procurement

The suspension of a Telangana RTC driver after he spoke about the hardships faced by farmers has triggered a major political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the state government of silencing criticism and curbing freedom of expression .

The incident took place on May 25 near the Jagityal RDO office, where Congress leaders were staging a protest against the recent fuel price hike. During the agitation, TGSRTC driver B. Ashok reportedly halted his bus briefly and urged political leaders to focus on the plight of farmers whose harvested paddy was getting drenched in unseasonal rains due to delays in procurement.

Eyewitnesses said Ashok appealed to the leaders to prioritise the purchase of damaged crops instead of engaging only in political demonstrations. His remarks, made in the backdrop of growing frustration among farmers across several districts, quickly drew attention.

Soon after the incident, Ashok was suspended from duty following a complaint lodged by C. Laxman , Congress president of Dharmapuri mandal. What has intensified the controversy further is that the suspension order reportedly mentioned criticism of the Congress government as the reason for disciplinary action.

Ashok, however, defended himself by stating that he had not made any political comments and had only expressed concern over the suffering of farmers from his village. He maintained that he spoke as an ordinary citizen moved by the worsening situation at procurement centres.

The issue has now snowballed into a larger political debate in Telangana, where allegations of delayed rabi paddy procurement have already become a flashpoint between the ruling Congress and the opposition. Leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) strongly condemned the suspension, calling it an attack on democratic rights and free speech. BRS representatives also submitted a memorandum to RTC authorities demanding that Ashok’s suspension be revoked immediately.

Meanwhile, Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has maintained that paddy procurement and farmer payments are progressing smoothly across the state. However, the opposition continues to accuse the government of failing to respond adequately to farmers facing crop losses due to untimely rains and procurement delays.

The controversy has also revived questions over the Congress government’s commitment to protecting dissent. Critics are now asking what happened to the assurances on democratic freedoms repeatedly made by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy after assuming office.

With farmer distress becoming an increasingly sensitive issue in Telangana politics, the suspension of a bus driver for voicing concern has now evolved into a wider debate over governance, accountability and the limits of public criticism.