Auto and taxi unions on Monday cancelled their proposed two-day strike from March 15 against app-based cab services after a meeting with Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai. Earlier in the day, the auto and taxi drivers took out a protest march from Rajghat to Delhi Secretariat raising black flags against Kejriwal-led AAP Government for allowing app-based taxis to ply in the city.
The unions were demanding steps to rein in the city’s app-based cab services, rollback of the hike in toll tax by municipal corporations and steps to ensure that registration of taxis be done only for PSV badge holders.
After having detailed discussions with Gopal Rai and officials of Transport Department, various autorickshaw and taxi unions decided to call off the two-day strike from March 15. However, general secretary of Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union Rajendra Soni warned the Government not to betray their trust.
“While we agreed to call off the strike, but I warn the Government not to betray our trust. If they don’t take any action on our demands, then we will take all the autos and taxis off the roads from April 15 when second edition of odd-even scheme is planned. If our demands are not met, we will ensure that odd-even scheme fails in Delhi this time as it cannot work without our support,” Soni said.
Soni claimed that the Delhi-based unions already have the support of Mumbai unions. “We will organise the unions of all the Indian cities and stage a nation-wide strike, if needed,” he added.