Bengaluru: The cabbies’ strike intensified on Friday with protesters stopping other cabs plying and throwing eggs inside the vehicles.
“95% of us are not driving. A few cabs were operating, but we stopped them and asked them to unite in the fight against Ola and Uber,” said Mr Kiran Gowda, president, Karunada Rajya Taxi Owners’ and Drivers’ Association.
“Ola and Uber have still not held a meeting. We are planning to stage a protest at Town Hall or Freedom Park. It will be a satyagraha with support from different unions,” he said.
“It is upsetting that nothing is being done by the government. We are planning to go to the court,” said Mr Radhakrishna Holla, president, Bengaluru Tourist Taxi Operators Association. “Cab aggregators should either follow the Karnataka Aggregators Policy or do not operate here.”
The driver and taxi unions contended that their problems will be resolved if the companies followed the fare fixed by the government and installed digital meters.
A couple of taxi associations plan to support the state government in the High Court on the cab aggregator policies. The case, challenged by Uber, can go forward only if the state files a petition. Transport Commissioner M.K Aiyyappa said that their advocate has applied for an early hearing, but it has not happened so far. “The issue is between the drivers and Ola and Uber managements. We do not have the powers to intervene,” Mr Aiyappa said.
The protest has now spread to other cities, including Hyderabad and Delhi. Syed Nizamuddin, president, Telangana State Cabs and Bus Operators Association, said the strike in Hyderabad had to be withdrawn as the livelihood of cabbies was affected.
