Bike Taxi Riders Protest Against Alleged Harassment By Autorickshaw Drivers

Bike taxi riders on Monday held a protest against the alleged harassment by autorickshaw drivers in Bengaluru. Several riders, under the aegis of the Bike Taxi Association, protested at the Freedom Park earlier on Monday. Adhinarayana, vice-president of the association, told, our protest today is against the atrocities by autorickshaw drivers against bike taxi operators. Thousands are self-employed because of bike taxis. It is not correct to treat us like this. The company has allowed us to operate bike taxis and hence we are doing it. Bike taxi riders also held placards seeking protection and condemned the alleged harassment by autorickshaw drivers and unions. The protest has come against the backdrop of recent incidents of alleged attacks on Rapdio bike taxi operators by autorickshaw drivers.
Autorickshaw drivers and unions have been demanding a ban on bike taxis for a long time. A plea is in the Karnataka High Court, which will be heard Wednesday, March 29. Autorickshaw drivers on Monday also threatened not to vote in the upcoming state Assembly elections if bike taxis are not banned in Karnataka. As the Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 is approaching, the heat of protests is hitting the Karnataka state government. The government, which had been facing heated protests on the issue of reservation and salary revision, succeeded in convincing the people and employees by fulfilling the demand at one stage. Meanwhile, the tug-of-war between the Bengaluru Auto Drivers and the Rapido Bike Taxi Drivers in Bengaluru has increased the government’s anger again.