Hyderabad: Auto strike enters 4th day

Hyderabad: There appears to be no end to the ongoing auto strike as the various unions on Monday decided that they would intensify the agitation after the police thwarted their ‘Chalo Assembly’ rally and their demands remained unresolved.

On Monday morning over 3,000 auto drivers from various unions were about to start their rally from AITUC office in Himayatnagar when police came in and arrested the leaders and protesters.

They were taken in three DCM vans to different police stations and majority of them were taken to Gosha Mahal stadium. Few leaders, however, who gave a slip to the police, sat on dharna at New MLA quarters and Police Control room before they were arrested. Kiran of IFTU, Narender of TRSKV, Mariah of TJAC and T - Auto Drivers JAC convener Mohd Amanullah Khan were among those arrested.

“We did not succeed in entering the Assembly but the very fact that thousands gathered and were able to make our presence felt is a victory,” said A Sathi Reddy, general secretary, AP Auto Drivers Samakhya.

The auto unions have decided to continue the strike and plan to meet the Transport Commissioner. “We will intensify the strike and will not budge till our demands are met, said Maraiah of T JAC. Meanwhile, the citizens continued to face hardship. Sukanya Reddy, a housewife said cab operators were fleecing them. They have increased the price by more than 50 percent, she said.