Auto Drivers in twin cities have decided to be off the roads from February 19 midnight, in response to the 48-hour auto band call given by the Auto Unions JAC consisting of 13 unions. A rally of auto drivers will be taken out on February 20 from Baghlingampally to Secretariat at 10 am and a memorandum will be presented to the chief Minister.
Addressing a press conference at AITUC office here today, Mohd. Amanullah Khan, committee leader alleged that the state government on one hand has miserably failed to solve auto drivers’ long pending issues such as, increase in auto fares, keeping in view the ever increasing fuel rates and prices of essential commodities, exemption from 8th class pass condition for obtaining licence to drive passengers auto rickshaw, cancellation of police e-challan system, permanent solution to the auto parking problem in the Greater Hyderabad area and setting up of a welfare board. On the other hand, he accused that the Central Government of failing to control the fuel prices and the prices of essential commodities.
The Central Government has been adopting wrong policies with regard to the working class all over the country, he alleged. In view of the above, there is a simmering discontent spread among the auto drivers and they are now left with no other alternative except to observe a 48-hour auto bandh and also to express support and solidarity to all India trade union bandh call.
B. Venkatesham, Mohd. Saleem, Narsing Rao, Eashwar Rao and Satti Reddy also participated in the press meet. They appealed to the auto drivers to participate in the proposed 48-hour auto bandh. (NSS)