Agencies/New Delhi

Hundreds of taxi drivers working for Uber and other online cab-hailing companies protested in the national capital yesterday, saying the government’s latest crackdown on their business had disrupted operations.
With the Delhi government determined to step up pressure on the companies after they defied a state-wide ban for six months, police officers have been using the taxi-hailing apps to book vehicles and impound them as they arrive.
“The police are treating us like terrorists,” said Sakil Ahmad Khan, 42, whose car was impounded last week. Without a job, he said, he did not know how he would repay a Rs500,000 ($7,806) loan he had taken on his car.
The taxi companies were banned in December, after a driver contracted with Uber was charged with raping a woman passenger in a case that sparked national uproar and highlighted the absence of screening of drivers by the US-based company.
Uber resumed operations in January even though the ban remained in place.
Police have impounded more than 600 cars belonging to their drivers since the Delhi government last week rejected licence applications from the taxi-hailing companies, saying they had not complied with the ban.
The taxi companies must comply with the law, said Muktesh Chander, Delhi’s special commissioner of police.
“They are arrogant and don’t want to run by the law,” he added. “If they think the law is unreasonable, they can challenge the law.”
In an e-mailed statement, Gagan Bhatia, Uber’s general manager in Delhi, said the company would continue working with the government to find an amicable solution.
Yesterday, Uber’s app in New Delhi showed no cars available, or a surge in pricing, signalling a shortage of drivers.
Many of the drivers gathered at Jantar Mantar, an 18th century observatory and traditional rallying point in central Delhi, said they would have to stop working for the taxi firms unless the government reversed its decision.
Krishan Kumar, 25, said police impounded his car a few days ago, after a customer called his taxi to a shopping mall. When he arrived, his vehicle was seized by officers and he was forced to pay a Rs5,000 fine.
“I come from a small household and we don’t have much money,” Kumar said. “My entire family is dependent on me for a source of income and they will go hungry if I don’t have this.”
“I want that Uber app should be allowed to continue. The lives of drivers have changed because of Uber. Earlier, transporters used to exploit us. Now because of Uber, we are owners of our vehicles. Uber has helped us buy our own vehicles at low costs and has shown us a way in life,” said S L Sharma, a taxi driver.
The drivers said verification of their background and conduct has been done by the police.
“App-based taxi services should be allowed. As far as safety is concerned, all of us have been verified by the Delhi police. Earlier, very few people wanted to enter this profession, but now more than 50% are educated. I am a graduate and I am working with this company. I earn a good salary which I cannot earn outside,” said another driver Jaspreet Singh Sasan.
Delhi’s Transport Minister Gopal Rai has accused Uber and Ola cabs of “misleading” their drivers and commuters by not submitting details of their drivers to the government.