App-based taxi drivers strike over ‘unfair’ minimum fares

Bhopal: Online taxi services ground to a halt for two hours in the state capital on Saturday as drivers observed a two-hour strike, leaving passengers stranded.Organised under the Bhopal Taxi Drivers' Union, affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the protesters rallied against the state govt and aggregator companies. They accused the platforms of exploiting drivers through govt regulations and demanded an immediate notification fixing minimum fares, with strict enforcement on approved rates. Drivers also opposed bike taxis and the use of private vehicles for passenger transport, claiming these practices threatened commercial drivers' livelihoods.Union leaders warned of escalating action if demands went unmet, calling the strike a prelude to broader protest. They urged rule changes and amendments to protect drivers' interests. A memorandum was submitted to authorities via Kuldeep Singh Gurjar, state general secretary of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.