Mangalore, July 12: Members of various auto rickshaw drivers’ union in the city organized a big rally in front of city’s Jyothi cinema and marched in protest towards DC office, raising slogans against officials on July 12, Friday demanding an immediate ban on entry of rural auto rickshaw drivers into the city limit. Later they protested in front of the DC office.
Addressing the protestors Ali Hassan, co-ordination committee president said that irked by the decision taken in meeting, held recently at RTO office under the presidentship of U T Khader, minister for health and family welfare, wherein rural auto drivers were given green chit to operate auto rickshaws in the city limit, city’s auto driver’s union had to resort for this protest without any other option.
Ali, further alleged that “Health minister U T Khader, instead of solving our problems, trying to create more problems for us with vested interest. The decision taken by him was against the interest of city’s auto drivers and we are ready to face any consequences, in case rural drivers were allowed to enter the city.
He also said that whenever the auto rickshaw drivers’ union approaches a minister or any other representatives with our problems, we are denied of our rights and with no positive response.
He further added that in spite of our long hours of duty, money what we earn is not even sufficient to meet our basic needs due to current inflationary trend. In case rural drivers are allowed to enter the city, the situation will aggravate and vowed that we will not allow rural autos to enter the city at any cost and under any circumstance.
B.Vishnumurthy, President, auto drivers’ union, Ashok Shetty, Arun Kumar, Aboobacker Suratkal among others were present.
