new Delhi: Auto drivers’ unions will hold a protest against the steep hike in CNG prices outside the Delhi Secretariat in the national capital on April 11.
“At 12 noon, we will start a protest against the CNG hike outside the Delhi Secretariat. We are demanding a subsidy of Rs 35 from the Delhi government as we do not want to burden our passengers,” ANI quoted Delhi Auto Rickshaw Association general secretary Rajendra Soni as saying.
Apart from this, they are also planning to go on an indefinite strike from April 18 if the subsidy of Rs 35 is not given.
He said, ‘If the government listens to us, it is fine, otherwise from April 18, taxis, autos will go on indefinite strike.
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Presently, 95,000 autos are plying in the national capital.
Soni further said that the Delhi government has not held any meeting with any union since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power.
Auto unions are also planning to involve unions from NCR to participate in the protest.
Auto driver Vikas expressed disappointment over the hike in CNG prices.
“We don’t know how we will survive. Are we supposed to be human? Everything is rising like fire except rent,” said Vikas.
“Now, schools have started functioning and every day children need school uniforms, from where will we get the books? Will our children not read? The government should think about it,” he said.
Another auto driver Anees also expressed a similar sentiment, saying that he has never experienced such a crisis before.
“Rs 400 daily rent, Rs 300 CNG what do we have left to survive? We are facing this kind of crisis for the first time. We want relief or else it will be difficult to survive.”
The remarks come at a time when the prices of petrol, diesel and CNG are witnessing an increase in the country.
Accordingly, the price of CNG in the National Capital Region (NCT) of Delhi is now Rs 69.11 per kg.