Govt seeks LG’s help to check violence during auto union strike

Transport minister Gopal Rai has urged the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to direct the police to prevent any untoward incident during the proposed strike by auto and taxi unions on Monday. The auto and taxi drivers’ unions are going to stage a protest against app-based cab operators, even as eight unions, which met the minister on Sunday “distanced” themselves from the stir.

Rai also met senior police and transport department officials and discussed the arrangements that need to be put in place to tackle any problem arising out of the strike on Monday, when only even numbered vehicles – barring exempted categories – will ply on roads.

In his letter to LG Najeeb Jung, Rai alleged that “auto, taxi unions of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have announced to go on a 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”.

Asserting that incidents of attack on autorickshaw drivers and damage to their vehicles were reported during the previous strike, the minister urged Jung to direct the police to ensure the safety of autorickshaw and taxi drivers, who are not taking part in the strike.

“Representatives of eight auto and taxi unions, including the Aam Aadmi Auto Sangh, All Delhi Auto Taxi Transport Congress Union, Bharatiya Tipahiya Chalak Sangh, Taxi Autorickshaw Drivers Sangharsh Samiti, today met the minister and said that they are not participating in the strike on Monday,” said a senior government official.

A section of auto and taxi unions, including Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Unions, have given a call for the strike on Monday to protest against app-based cab services – a move that may cause hardship to commuters in the national Capital, where the second phase of the odd-even scheme is in operation.

Rai met senior police officials SK Gautam, Special Commissioner (Law and Order) and Joint Commissioner (Traffic) AK Ojha and asked them to deploy more men at places like railway stations and hospitals so that auto and taxi drivers could work freely, he said. 

He has also directed officials of the transport department to ensure more buses are pressed into service at the New Delhi railway station, hospitals and other places.