Striking Ola, Uber cab drivers ask Govt to intervene

Over one lakh drivers attached to two cab aggregators, who began an indefinite strike here from February 22 demanding better incentives and stopping attachment of new cabs, on Monday sought Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari's intervention to solve the deadlock. "We have started talks with major political parties to lend support to the protests demanding better incentives and stopping attachment of cabs, following inaction of the state government and the aggregators," Uber, TaxiForSure and Ola (UTO) Drivers and Owners Association President Tanveer Pasha said.

The protesters have met former Karnataka Minister and BJP Leader Sobha Karandlaje who has assured them to put a word into the ears of Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari solve the vexed problem, Pasha said. "We met Shobahji, and she has assured us to put a word into the ears of Gadkari to address our problems," Pasha said.

The protesters also are scheduled to meet State JDS President H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday morning to give support to the agitation, Tanveer said. Pasha blamed government and aggregators for the present dilemma.

He said the government should prevail over the aggregators in asking them to adhere to the provisions under Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. The drivers also want Ola and Uber to stop attachment of new cabs as it affects their bookings, as also immediate stoppage of penalising drivers, based on customer ratings.