Delhi Autos, taxis threaten strike from Tuesday

NEW DELHI: Autorickshaw and taxi unions are threatening to go on a strike from July 26 unless the Delhi government takes action against app-based cab services such as Uber and Ola.

Said a statement issued by the joint action committee of the auto taxi union, "Autorickshaw and taxi drivers will go on a strike from July 26 if the demands made by the unions are not met by the Delhi government."

This includes enforcing the ban on the plying of app-based taxi services. The joint action committee comprises unions led by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) as well as the All Delhi Auto Taxi Transporter's Congress ( ADATTC). Both the groups, along with sundry other unions, are planning the strike on Tuesday.

That's not all. The joint action committee is also planning to start an indefinite sit-in in front of the Delhi secretariat from July 25. Said a statement issued by the committee members, "If our demands are not met by the Delhi government, the strike could be turned into an indefinite one."

The strike, said a member of the joint action committee, is against the government's "refusal" to crack down on the app-based taxi services. Said Rajender Soni of BMS, "These app-based services are plying their cars with impunity, despite the fact that they don't have licences. This is because the government is too lenient with them." The delay in issuing 10,000 auto permits is another sticking point, said Soni.

"If the government doesn't take action, we will have to take appropriate steps," warned Kishan Verma from ADATTC.

It's the first time that the opposing unions, which are affiliated to the major political parties in the city, have come together and given a call for a strike.