Ola and Uber get online ‘boost’ after HC query

Following the high court’s query asking the government under which policy it has allowed taxi aggregators to operate, WhatsApp messages praising private taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber have begun to circulate on WhatsApp and Twitter while Mumbai Grahak Sangh, a private body, has started a survey to know people’s opinions about black & yellow cabs as well as app-based cabs.

Audio messages have been circulated by the Unions, in which an unidentified man is heard telling supporters to not get violent during any strikes and goes on to add that the maximum that can be done is removing the air from the tyres of Ola and Uber cabs.

When contacted, Uber’s general manager, Shailesh Sawlani did not pick up the phone and when asked via a text message if this a deliberate campaign being run by his company, Mr Sawlani did not respond. Sources from Ola, however, said there is no such attempt being made by the company. “If this is the impression then it’s wrong, we don’t know how this impression is being made,” said a source on the condition of anonymity. Ola’s public relations official asked this reporter to send an email with the query and no reply was received until this paper went to print.