Protesting e-rickshaw drivers burnt an electric-rickshaw and claimed that if the government doesn’t lift the restrictions imposed on the operation of e-rickshaws on the main roads, this will happen on a daily basis. To escalate the protest, three drivers have also begun a fast unto death. According to one of the protesting e-rickshaw drivers Amit Kumar, "We are not allowed to operate our e-rickshaws on the main roads between 8 AM and 8 PM, which is basically the duration when passengers are taken up.
We have taken loans to buy these rickshaws after government assurances that it will give us employment but now the administration is deceiving us. To awaken the government and administration, we will burn one more e-rickshaw on Tuesday at Clock Tower and it will be done every day.” Another protester Amir Ahmed said, “The people from the bank routinely ask for installments.
How am I going to pay any installment when I am hardly able to arrange one time meal for my family? Today I earned only Rs 40. For now, I have just burnt my e-rickshaw but if the government would not change the decision, I'll commit self immolation.”
Devbhumi E-Rickshaw Owner and Driver Welfare Society office bearer Santosh Kumar said, “They say that e-rickshaws cause traffic jam on the main roads but even without us, traffic remains congested. The main reason is that the administration does not earn through us as much as they earn through auto rickshaws and Vikrams.
Though we give taxes too, still we are deprived of operating our vehicles on the roads. Our only request is either pay off our loans or lift the ‘no entry’ from the major roads of the city.” Meanwhile, four e-rickshaw drivers also commenced their fast unto death on Monday.