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30,000 taxis went off Kolkata roads on 'wild-cat strike'

Taxi drivers owing allegiance to CITU did not bring out their vehicles this morning and also forced those who were running their taxis to stop plying in different parts of the city

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Press Trust Of India Kolkata
People had a harrowing time reaching their destinations today as more than 30,000 taxis in the city went off the roads on a 'wild-cat strike' by drivers demanding release of 22 fellow cabbies arrested by the police for enforcing a strike last week.

Taxi drivers owing allegiance to CITU did not bring out their vehicles this morning and also forced those who were running their taxis to stop plying in different parts of the city.

The cabbies have also threatened to continue the strike indefinitely until the 22 drivers, who have been booked by Kolkata Police under non-bailable sections were released. "We support the drivers' resolve not to bring out taxis till the 22 arrested persons are released," CITU state president Shyamal Chakraborti said. Chakraborti, who participated in a rally and agitation by the drivers in front of Transport Minister Madan Mitra's office, said while addressing them that they should not bring out their cabs till the arrested cabbies were released.
 
Thousands of people in the N S C Bose International Airport, Howrah, and Sealdah stations, hospitals and other busy places were put into great inconvenience in reaching their destinations in the absence of the taxis. Office-goers were taken by surprise as the strike had not been announced earlier.

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First Published: Aug 11 2014 | 8:14 PM IST

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