Auto strike: Not everyone is participating

BANGALORE: Opposing the government’s decision to grant 40,000 new permits to autorickshaws, the Autorickshaw Driver’s Union (ARDU) is staging a protest on Friday starting from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm at Freedom Park.However, the strike has evoked mixed reactions.The Karnataka SC/ST and BCM and Minority Driver’s and Women Welfare Association, Bangalore City and Taxi Drivers and Owners Unit, and Adarsha Auto and Taxi Driver’s Union are not participating in the strike. B S Narayan Murthy, Secretary, Bangalore City Auto and Taxi Drivers and Owners Unit said, “Around 4,000 autos, which are registered with our union will function as usual.” He welcomed the state government’s decision to grant new permits and stated, “The size of the city and population has increased drastically, people rely on autos, so the increase in the number of autos will benefit the public and also leads to increase in self-employment.” He further added that they have requested the government to give uniforms to auto drivers like the BMTC and the police departments.Meanwhile, BMTC through a release said that 1,700 more buses will ply on Friday.