BJP did nothing for regularisation of e-rickshaws: Aam Aadmi Party

NEW DELHI: The AAP today accused the Central government of doing nothing for the regularisation and laying down of safety standards for e-rickshaws and said the BJP should take responsibility for a ban on them by the Delhi High Court.

"The BJP's central government must take responsibility for the ban on e-rickshaws, since it indulged in doublespeak and took contrary stands inside and outside the court. It did nothing for the regularisation and laying down of safety standards for these vehicles," AAP said in a statement.

The Delhi High Court today directed the city government to stop e-rickshaws from plying on the roads of the national capital "as of now".

"You (Delhi government) say it is illegal. You stop them (e-rickshaws) in the meantime, till a law is framed to regulate them. You can't allow them to take law into their hands," the court said.

AAP said Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari must explain what happened to his assurances given to the e-rickshaw drivers at the Ramlila Ground on June 16?

"He had promised to provide employment to two lakh people, but his government by its negligence and doublespeak is responsible for rendering atleast two lakh poor families in the national capital jobless at the moment.

"If the BJP and its central government are at all serious on the issue, they can easily get the amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act passed during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament itself to resolve the issue," the party said.

The key issues concerning the plying of e-rickshaws in the national capital are their registration and licensing, so that they can be regulated as per law, including laying down of clear criterion of how many passengers have to be allowed in them and in which areas will they be allowed.