Won’t Let Sigachi Off the Hook Until Victims Get Full Justice: Minister Dr. Gaddam Vivek Venkatswamy
Godavarikhani, Peddapalli district, June 30: Minister for Labour, Employment, Training, Factories, Mines and Geology, Dr. Gaddam Vivek Venkatswamy, on Tuesday asserted that the Telangana government would continue to hold the Sigachi management accountable until the victims of the Pashamylaram industrial accident receive complete justice. He also accused former minister Harish Rao of making politically motivated allegations and urged him to stop spreading misinformation for political gain.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Club in Godavarikhani, the Minister described the Sigachi accident, which claimed the lives of 54 workers, as a deeply tragic incident. He said the Congress government acted with utmost responsibility from the very beginning, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy personally visiting the injured at the hospital and directing officials to provide the best possible medical care.
Dr. Vivek Venkatswamy said he, along with Ministers D. Sridhar Babu and Damodar Rajanarasimha, rushed to the accident site immediately after the incident, reviewed the situation and coordinated relief measures. The government ensured prompt assistance to the bereaved families and quality treatment for the injured, he said.
The Minister stated that the government repeatedly summoned the Sigachi management and mounted sustained pressure to ensure adequate compensation for the victims. Owing to these efforts, families of the deceased workers have received compensation of nearly ₹50 lakh each, he noted.
He further said the government had initiated stringent legal action against the company for alleged negligence. Cases were registered under various legal provisions against those responsible, the company’s Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) was arrested, and the Inspector of Factories conducted inspections and initiated statutory action against the management.
Dr. Vivek Venkatswamy said the state government has also made its stand clear before the High Court that complete justice must be ensured for the victims. He maintained that the government’s pressure on the Sigachi management would continue until every bereaved family receives the promised compensation.
Taking aim at the previous BRS government, the Minister questioned why then Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) did not visit the site of the Kondagattu RTC bus accident, in which more than 60 devotees lost their lives, or console the affected families. He also questioned why the BRS government failed to act when alleged irregularities in the Telangana Intermediate examination results reportedly led to the deaths of 20 students, and demanded that Harish Rao answer these questions before the people.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Dr. Vivek Venkatswamy said the Congress government has taken every action required under the law in the Sigachi case and will not compromise on delivering justice to the affected workers and their families.
