Day after fuel price hike, drivers plan protest to armtwist government
A petrol bunk employee fills cans in a car before the fuel hike came into effect. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: Auto drivers in the city are planning massive protests to get the state government into revising the tariff again. A few unions, including CITU and AITUC, got in to a huddle hours after the Centre hiked the fuel price on Thursday night.
J. Seshsayanam, general secretary of Madras Metro Auto Drivers Association, who coordinated the meeting, said, “The Centre hikes the price regularly, but we have to follow the old tariff fixed by the state. People will blame us if we charge more than what the meter shows. It is the same old problem.”
“They increase it by Rs 3 and above, but when they reduce they do it by just Re 1. We have to follow the same old tariff fixed by the state. How can we run the autos if they increase the price so sharply?” he wondered.
The unions have planned to meet again in a couple of days and chalk out their plan to exert pressure on the government and hopefully get the tariff revised. However, they have planned no strikes immediately. Let alone the outcome of the protest and government’s response, the fuel price hike is sure to strain the relation between autorickshaw drivers and passengers
further. While passengers insist on paying only by the meter readings, drivers like Chellamani of Eekatuthangal asks; “Fuel will not be sold for the old price and only transport authorities can recalibrate the meter. Though passengers are aware of it, they will SMS a complaint if I ask more. If I am lucky, I might be let off with a warning. Otherwise, I will be fined Rs 2,500. How can I do business? Government should tell me.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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