Taxi stir: Madan, Citu talk tough

KOLKATA: Even though state transport minister Madan Mitra and Citu upped the ante ahead of the crucial meeting at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra on Wednesday afternoon, the impasse over taxi strike could not be broken on Tuesday. Mitra talked tough; so did Citu. And, amid this war of words, it appeared difficult to find a point of convergence. The only hope — a good section of the striking taxi drivers which is keen to join duty may change their stance if the government relents a little.
“I will hold a meeting with the police on how to stop vandalism by some taxi drivers who are creating a sense of panic among willing cabbies,” Mitra told reporters. “I have instructed police to arrest the drivers involved in vandalism. Drivers should know that leaders of CPM and BJP, who are trying to create anarchy, will flee whenever arrests will be made. CPM leader Shyamal Chakraborty and few others who never stood for the cause of taxi drivers in the past, have suddenly started feeling for them,” the minister said.
On the Wednesday meeting, Mitra said, “Meeting does not mean we will compromise. The idea is to tell them categorically that hard decisions will be taken against them if normalcy is not restored.” Mitra said that he would ask police to post personnel at all major intersections and facilitate willing taxi drivers to operate their vehicles.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose, talking to the reporters after a Front meeting, said: “Left Front supports the reasonable demands of drivers. We condemn the state’s attitude towards the drivers.” Citu state president Shyamal Chakraborty said, “We hope the government wakes up to the reality soon. We will stick to our demands that police will not penalize taxi drivers and cases against them must be withdrawn.” Asked on the minister’s comments that he was instigating the drivers, Chakraborty shot back. “It is he who is instigating.”