Delhi: Auto, taxi unions call off strike; give deadline to Centre

New Delhi, April 19: Autorickshaw and taxi unions have called off their strike in Delhi on Tuesday. The development has brought much-needed relief to Delhiites. “We have decided to call off the strike so that common people do not face any problems," the unions said, giving a 20-25 days deadline to the Central government to fulfil their demands. " If Central govt doesn’t accept our demands, then after 20-25 days they should be ready if Delhi doesn’t get milk, water supply,” Indrajeet Singh, President Rajdhani Parivahan Panchayat stated. The Delhi Auto and Taxi Association had called for a strike on April 18 and 19. Several auto and cab drivers' unions are demanding the fare rates be hiked and fuel prices be lowered. Despite assurances from the Delhi government that their issues will be resolved, the strike has not been called off. The Delhi government declared that a committee would be formed to look into fare revisions in a timely manner. However, General Secretary of Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh, Rajendra Soni alleged that the Central and the Delhi government is not paying heed to their demands. Also Read | Shiv Sena alleges motive of electoral gains behind Jahangirpuri violence He further stated that they wrote a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 30 highlighting their demands, including subsidy on CNG prices. “We did not receive a response from the government. We staged a protest for two days and are now compelled to go on strike,” he stated. “We do not want the fare to increase, because it will affect the pockets of the common people as well. Our only demand is that the government does not increase the fuel price and give us subsidies on CNG prices. We demand that the government provide Rs 35 per kg subsidy on CNG prices," Soni said while listing the demands of the auto and cab unions. The last time the auto fares were revised was in 2019 when the per-kilometre charge was raised from Rs 8 to Rs 9. Last week, however, CNG rates in Delhi increased by another 2.5 per kg, reaching 71.61 per kg. In the last year, the price has soared by 60% or more than Rs 28 per kg. Also Read | Eyeing 2024 LS polls, Cong again meets Prashant Kishor to discuss roadmap -PTC News