This Article is From Jul 28, 2016

Commuters Suffer As Delhi's Auto, Taxi Unions Strike Against App-Based Cab Services

This is the second instance in 2016 that an auto strike has taken place in the national capital.

New Delhi: As thousands of Delhi's autos and taxis remained off road for the second consecutive day, commuters and even private cab drivers complained of being cowed down by protesting auto drivers.

While an Ola cab driver alleged his car tyres were punctured at the railway station, several commuters complained of surge pricing by cab operators - Ola and Uber.

Narrating his ordeal to NDTV, the Ola cab driver said, "My only fault was that I came here, I have to bear so much damage."

As if that were not enough, auto drivers who want to work today were bullied and asked not to get their vehicles on road.

Even as two auto unions called off the strike, it hardly made any difference to ease commute within the city. Commuters were often overcharged.

Nevertheless, political blame game over the issue continued for the second consecutive day with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blaming BJP "goons" of stopping autos and taxis from plying.

"See this. BJP goons stopping autos n taxis from plying. BJP wants to cripple del. Active support frm LG n Del polic," Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

To this, BJP lawmaker Manoj Tiwari responded, tweeting, "if AAP looks into their government they will stop blaming BJP. They must stop blaming BJP for everything."

This is the second instance in 2016 that an auto strike has taken place in the national capital. The indefinite strike was called by a Joint Action Committee formed by 20 auto and taxi (kaali-peeli) unions, demanding the government to take strict action against app-based services such as Ola and Uber.

The Delhi government had in April promised to come up with a feasible solution to the issue, but nothing has been done so far.
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