HYDERABAD: 'Samanyudu' (aam aadmi) actor Sivaji has vowed to undertake an indefinite fast after Sankranti if the families of the victims of the Volvo bus mishap in Mahbubnagar are not suitable compensated by the state government. He has demanded Rs 10 lakh and a government job for each of the kin of the victims.

"The state government is fully responsible for the mishap. Transport minister Botsa Satyanarayana and chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy have given irresponsible statements washing of their hands of the tragedy and refusing to come to the aid of the victims' families. I am reacting as a common man to the plight of the families. If the government does not respond, I will not give up my fight," actor Sivaji who described himself as 'samanyudu' (common man) said.

To a question, the actor, however, replied he had personally not given any financial aid to the victims' families but had come forward to take up their issue.

"If the government does not do its job, I will think of my next move. If I were to beg to collect contributions for the families, I would not hesitate to do that," he said. The actor said he would announce the venue of his fast later. "There is too much security at the transport minister's house. Do you think I will be allowed to sit there?" he wondered in reply to a question.

Reminding the state government how the 'aam aadmi' unseated the government in Delhi, he the same thing would happen in AP.

HTo a question, he said he was not politicising the issue nor trying to garner publicity. "I have no political ambitions. I am reacting like a common man. You will see what I will do after January 15," he said.

e further added, it was only because of corruption that political leaders were not coming to the aid of 45 families who lost their near and dear ones in the Volvo bus mishap in Mahbubnagar district on October 30 last year.

He urged the HC to suo motu take up the case and see that justice was done to the victims' families. He also requested governor E S L Narasimhan to come to the aid of the distressed families.

Naveena, who lost her husband Shiva Kiran, came with her toddler and broke down saying that when they were demanding justice,

they had to suffer at the hands of the police. "We pay 30% of our income as taxes. Then why is it that the government does not want to pay us compensation?" she said.

G Sarala who lost her son Raghuveer said he had come from the US to get married. "He was supposed to get married next month. Instead of distributing wedding cards, we are now forced to go around with his death certificate," she said.

Hajeera Parveen, whose husband Sardar died in the bus blaze wept at the press conference. "I am just scared about what would happen to my two sons and me in the future. I urge the government to give us compensation," she said.

Actor Sivaji said the families of only four victims had taken the compensation of Rs one lakh offered by the transporters association. Recently, the Mahbubnagar district collector had also said Rs one lakh compensation would be given to each family. "Is that enough for families to survive?" he questioned.