Auto-rickshaw drivers decide to go on strike
Amritsar, February 7
Various auto-rickshaw and school van associations have decided to go on strike in protest against the alleged highhandedness of the police and Transport Department officials.
A large number of auto-rickshaw and school van drivers participated in a rally organised at Company Bagh here.
They alleged that they were being harassed by the authorities in the name of implementation of rules and regulations.
Ram Sharan Pal, president of the association, alleged that officials extorted money from poor drivers for plying vehicles.
He said the district administration, Transport Department and the police officials claimed that they were implementing orders of the court and expressed their helplessness but they had deliberately turned a blind eye towards mini-buses, ‘peter rehras’, tractor-trailers ferrying sand and building material in an illegal manner.
He said such drivers were violating norms with impunity but the authorities could not dare to touch them due to their political connections.
The drivers said they were poor and earn their livelihood by plying autos. With the strike, people, especially schoolchildren, would suffer, he added. — TNS
