Autorickshaw drivers accuse government of bias

Aurangabad

: Autorickshaw

drivers

from Marathwada have accused the state government of bias as it has allowed private cabs to ply in the green and orange zones, but not the autorickshaws.

Nishar Ahmed Khan, a leader of the

autorickshaw

drivers’ body, said it is unfair to leave them (the autorickshaw drivers) out while granting relief to some during the extended

lockdown

.

“Some of the autorickshaw drivers tried to ply their vehicles at places other than Aurangabad and Hingoli. However, they were asked to remain off the roads. We also received complaints of drivers getting penalised. We feel this is a great injustice to us,” he said.

Khan said the government cannot have double-standards while relaxing lockdown norms for private transporters. “We demand the government to allow autorickshaw drivers also to ferry a maximum of two passengers at a time,” he added.

As a protest against this alleged biased treatment meted out by the government, the autorickshaw drivers have started campaigning on social media platforms. “We have appealed to the autorickshaw drivers to shoot their videos, narrating their personal financial crisis and other issues. The videos will be posted on the social media by tagging different politicians from ruling parties and opposition as well as different government authorities,” Khan said.

Aurangabad city has around 15,000 registered autorickshaws, which have been off-road since the lockdown was announced. The region, as a whole, has over 70,000 autorickshaws. Families of all the autorickshaw drivers are struggling.

Divisional authorities said the lockdown-related norms were framed at the state and central levels. “The autorickshaw drivers should take up the issue with the government by lodging a formal complaint,” the officials said.