Drive away Ola cabs from Mangaluru: Agitating taxi operators tell govt

[email protected] (CD Network | by Rajeesh Kumar | photos by Satheesh)
July 3, 2015

Mangaluru, Jul 3: Demanding the withdrawal of Ola cab service from Mangaluru with immediate effect and proper enquiry into the money source of App based taxi service, traditional taxi operators staged a massive protest in the city on Friday. The protest was organised under the aegis of Dakshina Kannada Taxi Men’s and Maxicab Association.

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The agitators, who took out a taxi rally from Jyothi circle to Nehru Maidan and staged a protest meeting in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner in the city, set a 30 day deadline for the authorities to take necessary action against Ola cab service and stop its operation in the coastal city.

Inaugurating the protest meet, G R Shanmukhappa, president, Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association, warned the authorities that committing suicide was the only option for traditional taxi drivers if Ola cabs established their monopoly in the city.

“The taxi drivers of the city have already complained to the administration against ‘illegal’ operation of Ola cabs. App based service violates the law as such cabs do not possess city taxi permit and operating disregarding motor vehicle act,” he complained and demanded action.

In solidarity with local taxi operators, several other organizations including Bangalore Tourist Taxi Association, Federation of Karnataka Tourist Transport Association and Udupi District Taxi Men’s Association also took part in the protest.

DK Association President K. Monappa Bhandari suspected app-based operators are being funded through black money and alleged they are patronized by politicians and bureaucrats. Since six months, the state transport department is dillydallying on regulating app-based operators, he said.

Karnataka state Association president K G Raveendra, and Udupi Association president Raghupathi Bhat also spoke on the occasion.

Around 300 traditional taxi operators took part in the protest. Kannan, a city based taxi driver who has been running a taxi for last 52 years told Coastaldigest.com that ever since the Ola cabs started entered Mangaluru, many traditional taxi drivers are returning home with empty pockets. “Almost 2000 traditional taxi drivers in the city are losing their livelihood as they cannot compete with Ola cabs,” he said adding that if same situation continues taxi drivers have no other option but committing suicide.

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News Network
May 1,2024

Hassan MP and Lok Sabha election candidate of the BJP-JD(S) alliance Prajwal Revanna, who is facing an inquiry over the alleged sexual abuse of several women, said the truth will prevail.

The MP, who left the country as soon as the election to his constituency ended, has also sought seven days' time to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Karnataka government to inquire into the huge cache of about 3,000 explicit videos and photos allegedly pertaining to him, which have gone viral on social media.

“As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to CID Bangalore through my advocate. Truth will prevail soon,” Prajwal, grandson of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, said in a post on X.

A case has been registered against MLA and former minister H D Revanna and his son Prajwal at Holenarasipura on a complaint lodged by their former cook and relative for allegedly sexually harassing her.

She also alleged that Prajwal made video calls to her daughter and spoke in an objectionable manner, which forced her to block him.

The MP who is seeking re-election from Hassan on a JD(S) ticket, shared a letter by his lawyer Arun G to the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the SIT, in which he has sought seven days' time to appear before the official because he is abroad.

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News Network
April 25,2024

Bengaluru, Apr 25: Former union minister C M Ibrahim, who was expelled from Janata Dal (Secular) for protesting against party’s alliance with BJP, has stressed on need for a third front not just at the national level, but also in Karnataka. 

Addressing a news conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, he said he’s planning to form a third front in Karnataka along with Lingayat Seer Dingaleshwar Swami.

Ibrahim said that he will tour the state between April 27 and May 4 and that he would meet Dingaleshwar Swami on April 29. “There is a need for the third front in this country. We will try to establish a third front in association with the seer and we hope we will be successful in those efforts,” he said.

Expressing disappointment with the Congress for not doing enough to gain the full confidence of Muslims, Ibrahim said that Congress is concentrating only on certain communities for votes, and ignoring Muslims. 

“The Congress is not even caring for Muslims and Dalit votes. In some Muslim areas they did not even hold campaigns seeking votes and trying to convince the communities which never vote in their favour. I fear this may lead to low turnout and Congress may lose its vote base,” he opined.

Mentioning about guarantees on which Congress is strongly relying during this election, Ibrahim said, such things won’t work all the time. “Guarantees will not work anymore. Every election you need to give something new to the voters,” he added.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that Congress is trying to appease minorities for votes, Ibrahim requested both Congress and BJP parties not bring Muslims between them. “I request both parties. Leave us alone. Don’t make us sandwiches for your political sake. We are living with peace and hope even the Prime Minister will understand this,” Ibrahim added.

Launching a broadside against Prime Minister Deve Gowda, Ibrahim said, “Deve Gowda has sold his personality itself. Whatever I have told about JD(S) has come true. I pity, a former Prime Minister should not have come to this stage,” he said. 

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News Network
May 2,2024

Bengaluru, May 2: Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, was issued fresh summons on Thursday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is investigating the case of obscene videos involving the former JD(S) member, several news outlets reported.

The SIT also junked his appeal which sought seven days time to join the probe, as per these reports.

Prajwal and his father, H D Revanna, have sexual harassment and stalking cases filed against them over the matter. Gowda's son, H D Revanna, however, said that what took place '4-5 years ago' is now being turned into a legal case.

JD(S) in its core committee meeting suspended Prajwal from the party till the end of the probe. Prajwal, meanwhile, took to X to state he would join the probe in seven days time, asserting 'truth will prevail'.

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