Auto, taxi unions withdraw strike call, govt hints at fare revision

According to sources, the decision to roll back the strike was taken after a meeting between the union leaders and Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai

Hours after the Delhi government hinted at fare revision and action against app-based cabs on Sunday, auto-rickshaw and taxi unions withdrew their strike call from Monday.

AAP leader Sanjiv Jha (second from right) along with the members of auto unions interact with journalists the party office in New Delhi. (Sushil Kumar/HT Photo)

“We decided to call off our strike after an hour-long meeting with the transport minister. The minister has agreed to meet our long-pending demands. The government has promised action against the app-based taxi service providers starting Monday,” Rajendra Soni office bearer of Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, which are a part of the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.

Auto and taxi unions, including Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Unions had called for strike on Monday to protest against app-based cab services. According to sources, the decision to roll back the strike was taken after a meeting between the union leaders and Delhi transport minister Gopal Rai.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday also announced “action” against app-based cabs.

Kejriwal on Sunday tweeted, reacting to a complaint by a man, that his government will “announced action against Ola/Uber.”

Earlier during the day, Rai had alleged political opponents of trying to fail odd even scheme by orchestrating auto and taxi strike, Gopal Rai wrote to lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, urging him to ensure enough police presence to combat any untoward incident on Monday.

“…auto, taxi unions of RSS and BJP have announced to go on strike on April 18. Several auto union representatives who met me have distanced themselves from the strike while expressing fears of violence and sabotage by the striking unions...” the letter read.

Delhi BJP President Satish Uadhyay said after the letter of assurance issued by Delhi government to auto unions, the chief minister’s “lies stand exposed”.

On Saturday, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had accused the RSS and the BJP of trying to “fail” his government’s odd-even traffic scheme saying even during its first phase in January, the RSS and the BJP had orchestrated the strike by government officers.

The transport minister had even hinted at a possible tariff increase during the day. “The tariffs have not been revised for quite some time now. We will look into the matter in May,” said Rai, who met the also met a section of auto and taxi union representatives on Sunday.

“We met representatives of several auto/taxi unions and they have assured us that they will not participate in the strike,” said Rai.

A section of auto drivers associated with the Aam Aadmi Party had told reporters on Sunday morning that they would not participate in the strike.