Uber, Ola cab drivers threaten indefinite hunger strike in Telangana from tomorrow; complain of unfair practices

You may find Ola and Uber off roads in Telangana tomorrow as the drivers of these ride-hailing apps have called for indefinite strike, alleging unfair practices.

A section of cab drivers attached to Uber and Ola have threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike.

The Telangana Cab Drivers and Owners Association (TCDOA) is already on strike for the past four days.

TCDOA president Shiva Vulkundakar urged companies not to accept new registrations on their platforms as the existing cab owners are not able to make enough money.

"They are using unfair practices. The state government should come to our rescue. They (Ola and Uber) make tall promises to drivers during enrolment time. The companies had promised that every cab driver would earn handsome money. But in reality the picture is different. We request the state government to allow us to use meters so that we can run our vehicles as taxis," he said.

"I will personally sit on indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow. Some of the members who support us may also sit along with me on hunger strike," Vulkundakar told .

Though the exact number of cabs attached to Uber and Ola is not officially known, the TCDOA claimed that over one lakh drivers belonging to both the taxi app companies are participating in the strike.

A senior official of Ola, while admitting there is some impact on the business, however, said, "business is as usual".

Uber, in a statement yesterday, said, "We condemn the forceful disruption to our services in Hyderabad by a small group of people who have threatened drivers and damaged vehicles, inconveniencing riders and preventing people from earning a livelihood."

"We remain committed to serving the city, and call upon authorities to ensure safety and continued operation of our services so that we can keep Hyderabad moving," it said.

However, TCDOA refuted Uber's allegation and termed it baseless.