Ola, Uber cab drivers’ strike continues

January 8, 2017

Hyderabad, Jan 8: Attempts by the Telangana State Transport department to break the deadlock between the striking cab drivers and Ola and Uber management fell flat, as representatives of the companies failed to turn up for talks on Saturday.

cab
The situation turned tense after the president of the Telangana Cab Drivers & Owners Assocation Shiva Vulkundakar was forcibly shifted to Gandhi Hospital by the police from his home where he was on a hunger strike for the past five days.

Mr. Vulkundakar was bodily lifted allegedly by a posse of policemen who swooped on his house at Chakri Colony of ECIL early on Saturday morning.

“They came in four Innovas, and also arrested about 100 cab drivers, and took them away to Keesaragutta and Kushaiguda police stations. They were later released,” said K.Prasad, the treasurer of the Association, representing Mr .Vulkundakar.

On Friday, before Uber obtained injunction from the court restraining Telangana Cab Drivers and Owners Association and the Telangana State Cabs Association, representatives from the cab aggregators met those of the cab drivers at the RTA office. Though no agreement was reached, it was decided that they would meet again on Saturday for talks.

“We have not received any call, and when we arrived at the RTA office, we were told that the Ola and Uber representatives have not turned up. We have been asked by RTA officials to come again on Monday.

Here, we have these companies violating the edicts of the State government with impunity,” Mr.Prasad fumed.

Joint Transport Commissioner Venkateswarlu could not be contacted for his version, even while the cab drivers refused to move from RTA office till late.

Stir to continue

A large contingent of policemen arrived at the RTA office soon after the officials left and removed 60 of them to Goshamahal police station.

Mr. Prasad vowed to continue the strike till their issues are resolved.

However, cabs which disappeared from the city roads for over a week have reappeared on Saturday, making life easier for the commuters.

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