Observing that the mass general strike by four lakh employees of the Telangana region including the workers of the Singareni Collieries has crippled the power generation in the state, the Chief Minister Mr Kirankumar reddy today appealed to the striking staff to call off the strike immediately and return to work for the sake of the people.

Speaking at a meeting of the congress workers of Hyderabad city, Kirankumar reddy said that the two hour power cut is being increased to four hours because of the grave power situation.

“You say you were striking the work for Telangana but people are suffering as there is no power, no buses and no movement of files in the offices,” he said, adding that the employees are punishing the people in more ways than one through their strike.

The chief minister said that any sort of agitation should be helpful to the people and not be harmful. “People will punish you since you are harming the people through your strike,” he told the strike leaders.

He said the government is spending more than Rs.12 Cr daily for purchasing power to meet the people’s requirements but this situation may not go on for long. “It is better you returned to work immediately for protecting the interests of the people.”