The taxi owners’ association participated in a strike in Kolkata on Friday called jointly by Left-backed trade unions — Centre for Trade Unions (CITU) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
This is the first time in recent months that the taxi owner’s association joined the driver’s union to protest alleged police excesses.
Although taxi drivers have stayed off roads intermittently in August and September, Friday’s strike saw the participation of Bengal Taxi Association, a taxi owners’ association , for the first time.
They demanded a hike in passenger fare as well as an increase of fine (from Rs. 100 to Rs. 3,000) for refusing a passenger.
Although it was a joint strike, protest marches were held separately by CITU and the AITUC during the day.
According to CITU leader Anadi Sahu, CITU volunteers marched up to State secretariat and submitted a memorandum, which was received by Chief Minister’s officials.
The AITUC held a protest march during the day from its office in central Kolkata to Metro channel at Esplanade.
“We will be submitting a memorandum at Nabanna tomorrow [Saturday]. If our demands are not met, we will hold another strike on January 6, 2015,” said Nawal Kishor Shrivastav of the AITUC.