Auto unions threaten strike from Monday

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Following the hike in CNG price, the autorickshaw unions predictably raised the tempo for increasing the fares and threatened to go on strike from Monday if the government did not increase the fares.

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit has, however, said that the increase in CNG prices would be factored in while deciding the fares. The autorickshaw unions, meanwhile, are demanding an immediate increase in the fares saying that they did not have much faith in the committee that decides fares. Indraprastha Gas Limited, which supplies gas in New Delhi and the surrounding region, has raised retail prices of CNG by Rs 5.6 per kg from Thursday due to an increase in natural gas prices. With the new CNG price, a kilogram of CNG would cost Rs 27.50 in Delhi and Rs 30.60 in surrounding regions, said the IGL officials in a statement. The hike had become effective from midnight on Wednesday.
While the government has on Thursday pointed out that the CNG fares are likely to be revised in the next few days, the autorickshaw drivers may take the CNG hike as an excuse to overcharge passengers. “CNG prices have increased, we will have to increase our fare too,” said Ravi Kumar, who has been driving an autorickshaw in Delhi for the past six years. Meanwhile, the Bhartiya Tipahaya Chalak Sangh president Sobhran Singh pointed out that “the government is expected to revise auto fare soon.”

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BJP to protest hike
Age Correspondent
New Delhi

June 17: The Delhi BJP will hold a protest demonstration against the CNG price hike on Sansad Marg on Friday and will also submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Mr V.K. Malhotra criticised the CNG price hike and termed it a “diabolical move against the people”. Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta, while criticising the move, stated that the CNG prices have been hiked in the capital six times in a span of four years. “The CNG price hike will affect the move to protect the environment in the capital. The government is going to encourage polluting vehicles in place of those running on CNG fuel by hiking the price,” stated Mr Vijendra Gupta in a statement.