Violence hits pvt cabbies for 2nd day

MUMBAI: More than 85% of taxis belonging to the city’s largest fleet cab service remained off the roads for a second day in succession, inconveniencing passengers, as violence against the company’s drivers and vehicles continued. At least 12 more Meru cabs were damaged on Wednesday and their drivers assaulted and robbed.
Meru Cabs CEO Rajesh Puri reiterated that the violence is the result of a battle for supremacy between two rival drivers’ unions, though one union on Tuesday explained the drivers’ absence as a “strike for benefits”.With the fighting showing no signs of abating, it is expected that about 75% of Meru’s fleet of 2,000 will remain off the roads on Thursday.
“By late Tuesday night, we had convinced 500 drivers to ply again. But after fresh attacks on Wednesday morning, 250 drivers suddenly went off the roads.” Puri told TOI. The remaining 250 mainly ran their cabs in the western suburbs and in parts of the island city.
The Wednesday attacks occurred largely in Juhu, Andheri, Borivli and Malad. A Meru driver said the assaulters were dressed in plainclothes and riding motorcycles. They overtook and stopped Meru cabs at desolate spots, pulled out the drivers, damaged the cars, stole the drivers’ cellphones and cash, and then fled on their bikes. Many believe the attackers were “hired goons” and not drivers. Sources said the Juhu police have detained a suspected attacker for questioning. The day before, 15 drivers were assaulted and eight cars damaged across the city.
To put an end to the violence, Puri held another round of talks on Wednesday with representatives of the two warring unions—Shiv Sena-led Meru Cabs Chalak Sena and Swabhiman Sanghatana, which is led by Nitesh Rane, son of state industries minister Narayan Rane. The two unions’ leaders were unavailable for comment on Wednesday, though, in an earlier interview to the media, they denied any hand in the violence.
Puri appealed to the fleet drivers to return to work. “We have now left it to them. If they don’t come back, they will be the losers.” Puri said. “The drivers have collectively lost about Rs 25 lakh over the last two days.” The company itself suffered losses to the tune of Rs 42 lakh.
Some Sena union members had claimed on Tuesday that drivers were staying off the roads to agitate against a hike in subscription charges—the amount a driver pays the company to acquire a cab—which Meru increased by Rs 175 a day from October 1. On Wednesday, union sources said they would continue to “strike work” until the company concedes to their demands of a Rs-50 cut in the charge, two weekly offs in a month and welfare schemes for drivers’ families. Puri argued that drivers daily earn at least Rs 700 after paying the subscription charge and the fuel price. “We are trying to figure out how to end the mess. If they want to continue this way, it will only affect their earnings. Many of them have families to look after and I am sure better sense will prevail,” he said. “Meanwhile, we have demanded police protection for our offices and staffers. We also asked the cops to arrest the culprits.”