Auto-taxi drivers strike called off

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The  joint  action council of auto and taxi drivers called off the strike on Thursday evening after discussions with Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. Though the government had increased the auto-taxi fares on Wednesday, the joint action council went on a strike in protest against the increase in the minimum charge distance  from 1.2  km to 1.5  km  as per the new fare chart.

The  action council leaders phoned  Mr Radhakrishnan, who was in Kottayam,  and he agreed to hold talks with them after returning to the capital on Monday. Sources said that the strike was withdrawn following differences of opinion within the joint action council.  The  INTUC did not participate in the strike. While the CITU was for continuing with the strike, other unions, including AITUC and BMS,  wanted to strike only for a day. Other than a few isolated incidents of violence, the strike was peaceful.  Some of the autos which plied were blocked by strike supporters.