Taxi and autorickshaw drivers have called off their decision to go an indefinite strike from Monday in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai after the government assured them to look into their demands seriously.
They were demanding the state government regulate operation of cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola.
The decision to hold back the strike was taken by two unions Jai Bhagwan Taxi Rickshaw Sangathana and Nitesh Rane-led Swabhimaan Sanghatana. Their next course of action will be decided after a meeting with the minister on September 1.
“We withdrew the strike after the assurance given by the Transport Minister (Diwakar Raote) and we hope the government would this time give a serious thought and keep its word or otherwise options are always open to go on a strike again,” President of the Jai Bhagwan Taxi Rickshaw Sangathana, Bala Sanap said.
Moreover, “we did not want to cause inconvenience to lakhs of commuters,” he said.
However, Mumbai Autorickshaw men’s Union, the largest union of autorickshaw drivers and owners have remained firm to go on a days off strike on August 31.
Earlier on August 24, demanding action against cab aggregators Uber and Ola, Jai Bhagwan Sanghatana had announced an indefinite strike from Monday. Another union led by Rane had lend its support to the stir.
Their three key demands included to put the operations of app-based cab aggregators on hold till rules and regulations are formulated by the state government, and if allowed, they should be asked to ply outside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and they should be under the ambit of RTO rules and regulation.
In June, taxi and autorickshaw drivers had protested at Azad Maidan seeking inquiry and action against cab aggregators over their pricing strategy to attract customers.
