Uber cab drivers protest in Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) At least 500 drivers of Uber cab service Friday staged a protest here against the Delhi government’s move to ban the online taxi booking company.

The government banned the company Dec 8 after finding that it has not been following transport rules. The move came soon after one of its drivers allegedly raped a 25-year-old woman in his cab.

“Every driver of the company is not a culprit. If one commits a crime, what is the point of punishing others,” A.S. Pandey, an Uber cab driver, told IANS.

Pandey said the government should think of them (drivers) and their families.

“The government should think about us and our families. Where do we go? We want the government to take back its decision,” he said.

Ranjeet Roy, another driver, told IANS that they have requested union Road Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari to meet them and look into their demands.

The drivers protested at Jantar Mantar here.

Meanwhile, another cab booking company Ola’s vice-president Pranay Jivrajka told IANS: “We understand the concern of the affected drivers. At the end of the day, the driver is an entrepreneur in his own right and this is bound to impact his livelihood.”

“We should work together with the government to find a way forward.”