Taxi union to join Hazare’s fight for lokpal
Social activist Anna Hazare’s crusade for a strong lokpal bill has found a support in the form of black and yellow taxis in the city. The Mumbai Taximen’s Union, comprising over 30,000 taxis, has agreed to extend their support to Hazare’s cause on August 16, the day the social activist will begin his fast in Delhi. Consequently, there could be few or even no taxis on the roads on August 16.
The union’s decision came after a meeting with Hazare’s team in Mumbai. “We will be supporting the movement. The further course of action will be decided in a couple of days,” said A Quadros, general secretary, Mumbai Taximen’s Union.
The union’s proposal is to either keep all taxis off the roads or ply less number of taxis on August 16. This proposed protest could go on for a day, or more depending on the decision taken by the union at its internal meeting. The taxi drivers may sport bands or paste stickers in their vehicles in support of the movement.
According to the union members, on several occasions, the drivers are forced to pay bribe to the RTO officials and traffic policemen. That drives some of them to tamper with their meters. “We are grappling with corruption and hence want to be a part of the movement,” said another member of the taxi union.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai chapter of India Against Corruption claimed that till July 26, nearly 44,000 people had shown interest in joining the protest from August 16. “When we approached the taxi union, they agreed to join our movement,” said Mayank Gandhi, campaign coordinator in Mumbai.
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Sikh-American organisation SALDEF named recipient of 2021 FBI community leadership award
A Sikh-American education and policy non-profit organisation has been named recipient of a 2021 FBI community leadership award. In a statement, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Steven M D'Antuono said that the Sikh-American Legal Defence and Education Fund has been named recipient of the 2021 FBI Director's Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for the Washington Field Office (WFO). SALDEF is a Sikh American education, media, and policy non-profit.
-
Man of the hour Fadnavis makes good on promise
Mumbai: Rather like Arnie, Devendra Fadnavis had told his followers after his ignominious exit in 2019: “Me Parat Yaenar” (I'll be back). Uddhav Thackeray's resignation as Maharashtra chief minister on Wednesday was the culmination of Fadnavis's campaign against the MVA government effected with Terminator-like precision. Fadnavis, who turns 52 this July, is all set to return as Maharashtra's chief minister for the third time this week.
-
Punjab assembly: LoP Partap Bajwa demands autonomous body to telecast proceedings
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday alleged anomalies in the live telecast of Punjab Vidhan Sabha proceedings. The Congress leader, who took up the issue in the Zero Hour, said he gets constant calls from across the state that whenever any Opposition member speaks, the camera's focus is removed from them during the telecast.
-
Congress MLA requests CM to take over PIMS Jalandhar
Congress MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary on Wednesday met chief minister Bhagwant Mann and requested him to take over the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences Jalandhar so that the people of the Doaba region can avail top quality medical treatment at affordable prices. He demanded that the state government should cancel the public-private partnership and take over the institute.
-
As 2005 repeats, it’s Aaditya’s time to rise and shine
On June 21, the Shiv Sena split in the middle and despite his best efforts, its president Uddhav Thackeray has failed to keep the flock together. Despite the party's depleted bench strength in the assembly, a legislator from Worli, Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray, will have the opportunity to show that he can be an aggressive yet responsible opposition figure. He also has the responsibility of leading the party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections due this year.
