Bhubaneswar: The Drivers’ Federation has vowed to launch an all-India agitation following the arrest of key members involved in the ‘Quit Steering’ protest in Odisha.
The federation expressed strong condemnation over the detention, urging the central and state governments to intervene immediately.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the federation demanded the release of their arrested leader and warned that failure to do so would lead to a coordinated nationwide stir by driver unions across the country.
President of the National Auto-Taxi-Bus Transport Federation Baba Kamble, said on Saturday that Odisha Driver Mahasangha President Prashant Menduli and his associate had peacefully participated in the ‘Quit Steering’ protest, which called for welfare and social security measures for drivers. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, the Odisha authorities allegedly resorted to arresting key leaders under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Kamble claimed that the state government is attempting to suppress the drivers’ voices and intimidate them with harsh legal action.
The Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh Treasurer Aditya Prasad Behera, was among those arrested and is now facing serious charges that could lead to imprisonment for up to four years.
“The use of such severe provisions against peaceful protestors is unjust,” Kamble said. He appealed to all driver unions in the country to stand united against this injustice and to be prepared for a nationwide strike if the arrested leaders are not released promptly.
In the letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the federation demanded the immediate withdrawal of what it described as “false and fabricated charges.”
The federation warned that if their demands are not met, protests will escalate across all 28 states of India.
