Autos, cabs call off stir after Gopal Rai assurance

The Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union on Sunday night withdrew their call for a strike on Monday after the city government gave them a written assurance that their demands would be fulfilled.

The two unions account for the major chunk of the autorickshaw and taxi drivers in the national capital.

Rajendra Soni, general secretary of both the unions, said Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai has given them assurance.

The strike had been proposed in protest against app-based cab operators, and eight other unions, which met the minister on Sunday, had already “distanced” themselves from the stir.

“Today, the transport minister called us for a meeting and he gave us written assurance that the government will take strict action against illegal operations of app-based taxi operators,” Mr Soni said, adding the government has also given written assurance on issuing 1,000 new permits for autorickshaws.

Earlier in the day, Mr Rai met senior police and transport department officials to discuss necessary arrangements to tackle any problems arising due to the proposed strike on Monday when only even-numbered vehicles, barring exempted categories, will be on the roads.

In a letter to lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung, Mr Rai had alleged that “auto, taxi unions of RSS and BJP have announced a strike on April 18. Several auto union representatives, who met me, have dista-nced themselves from the strike while expressing fe-ars of violence and sabota-ge by the striking unions.”

Pointing out that incidents of attacks on autorickshaw drivers and damage to their vehicles were reported during the previous strike, the city minister had urged Mr Jung to direct the police to ensure safety of autorickshaw and taxi drivers not taking part in the strike.

“Representatives of eight auto and taxi unions, incl-uding Aam Aadmi Auto Sangh, All-Delhi Auto Taxi Transport Congress Union, Bharatiya Tipahiya Chal-ak Sangh, Taxi Autor-ickshaw Drivers Sangharsh Samiti, met the minister and clarified that they are not participating in the strike on Monday,” a senior Delhi government official said.

The proposed strike could have led to hardship to commuters in the national capital, where the second phase of the odd-even car rationing scheme is in operation.

Mr Rai also met senior Delhi police officials and asked them to deploy more personnel at places like railway stations and hospitals. The city’s transport department officials had also been directed by the minister to ensure more buses are pressed into service at the New Delhi Railway Station, hospitals and other places, added the official.