Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Sharad Rao announces a 3-day strike of autos, his rivals oppose the strike' that was published in Newsband

Sharad Rao announces a 3-day strike of autos, his rivals oppose the strike

By Dinesh Kamath

Pictures of Sharad Rao and Navi Mumbai auto

NAVI MUMBAI: Union leader Sharad Rao has announced a three-day strike of autos from August 22 to 24. Autos will go off roads in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and rest of state.

The demands include a fare hike (minimum Rs 25 fare in Mumbai), new permits only for existing badge holders and opposing the new rule for phasing out 16-year-old autos.

However, Thampy Kurien of the rival Mumbai Rickshawmen's union and Haji Arafat Sheikh of MNS-led auto union have opposed Rao and they plan to ply autos on these days.

Rao’s move to go ahead with the strike could be a ploy to score over his rivals who are not in support of the strike. Rao will have a upper hand only if the strike proves to be successful.

The regular commuters of autos, however, are totally against the hike in auto-fare since just recently the fare had been increased considerably by the Government. They are hoping that the strike will be a failure.