Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers yesterday began an “indefinite hunger strike” against app-based taxi operators as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of sponsoring the protest.
Incidents of the protesters forcibly stopping some auto-rickshaw drivers from ferrying passengers were reported.
“We want to ferry passengers and drive our autos, but some people on the streets are vandalising plying vehicles,” an auto-rickshaw driver said in a video shared by Kejriwal from his twitter account.
“Even police is not providing security to us and that’s why we are not ferrying passengers,” the driver added.
Kejriwal yesterday morning alleged the BJP was supporting those striking auto-rickshaw drivers who were forcibly stopping other drivers from plying their vehicles.
“BJP goons stopping autos and taxis from plying. BJP wants to cripple Delhi. Active support from LG (Lt Governor) and Delhi police,” Kejriwal said.
Delhi Transport Minister Satyendar Jain also accused the Delhi police of not taking action against those forcibly stopping auto drivers from plying their vehicles.
Meanwhile, Joint Action Committee of Auto and Taxi Unions (JACATU) president Rajendra Soni refuted the claims of Kejriwal and called his government “the biggest goon.”
“Kejriwal government is the biggest goon across the country,” he said.
“We are not goons, it is Kejriwal, his party and his government, which are goons,” Soni said, adding, “they do this kind of thing to hide their failures.”
Asked about the claims of some drivers of being pressured to stay off the road, Soni said: “They (AAP) are conspiring against us to foil our strike. Those indulging in such practices are not our people but are hired by them (AAP).”
“Haven’t you seen their MLAs and leaders sent behind bars in the case of molestation and sexual harassment,” the JACATU leader said.
“We will continue our hunger strike till the time they don’t accept our demands,” he added.
Sanjay Chawla, president of another auto-rickshaw union, said: “Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers never indulge in fights against another driver, but respect each other. Those who indulge in such acts are some miscreants.”