Hyderabad, Feb. 9 -- The ruling Congress and the principal opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Friday, February 9, sparred over the welfare of auto drivers in Telangana in the state Assembly's budget session.

Speaking about the struggles of auto drivers during the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, Jangaon BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy alleged that 21 auto drivers have died by suicide since the inception of the free travel scheme in TSRTC buses for women and transgender persons and demanded that the government provide Rs 20 lakh in ex gratia to their families.

"Due to free bus travel for women, 6.5 lakh auto drivers suffer, only a very few auto drivers own autos; many take autos on rent for Rs 300 a day, and they have to...