Auto row: BJP seeks Arvind Kejriwal, Rai resignation

Agitated auto drivers along with Delhi BJP leaders held a demonstration outside chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence over the so-called autorickshaw permit scam. The protesters shouted slogans against Mr Kejriwal and demanded his resignation for the irregularities in the distribution of permits for autorickshaws.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay and the protesters held Mr Kejriwal and city transport minister Gopal Rai accountable for the irregularities and vehemently demanded their resignations.

Mr Upadhyay claimed that the autorickshaw drivers, who had been loyal Kejriwal supporters, were badly cheated. “It hurts to know that the Kejriwal government robbed the permits from the actual auto drivers and gave them to the auto mafia,” he claimed.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta alleged that in connivance with senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders there has been a major financial scam in the auto permit distribution and called for a high-level inquiry into the issue. “It now appears that there must have been a bigger scam in distribution of the 30,000 auto permits by the Kejriwal government,” he added.

All 932 letters of intent issued by the city transport department till date were scrapped by the Delhi government on Saturday, and the exercise of issuing fresh letters has been put on hold. The department also suspended three transport department officials over alleged corruption in issuing fresh letters for the three-wheelers.

Holding Mr Kejriwal morally responsible, the BJP leaders along with autorickshaw drivers demanded his resignation. “People have lost faith in this government and the BJP demands the resignation of CM Arvind Kejriwal and transport minister Gopal Rai,” an anguished auto driver said.

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh leader Rajender Soni along with several auto drivers demanded a thorough inquiry into the so-called permit scam and called for action against officials and leaders involved in the scam. “They said that the Kejriwal gover-nment too like its predecessor Congress government is helping the auto mafia. The permits which should directly go to the auto drivers are landing in the pockets of auto mafia,” claimed Mr Soni.