Drivers attached to cab hailing platforms Uber and Ola in Bengaluru began their proposed hunger strike at Freedom Park on Wednesday to protest against falling earnings on both platforms.
While Uber and Ola have remained mum on what steps they would take to solve the issue, driver associations in the city have sought support from opposition parties in the state. So far H D Deva Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular) and the Karnataka BJP have extended support to the protesting drivers.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday promised drivers to work towards getting them the permission to stage a peaceful protest at Freedom Park.
The protests in Bengaluru, that kicked off a week ago after neither company reached out to drivers even after a 10 day stay, have suffered from instances of violence. Two drivers have tried to commit suicide outside Ola's office in the city, while one driver who ignored the strike was assaulted by protesters on Monday.
There are over 100,000 cabs attached to Uber and Ola on Bengaluru's roads, with drivers complaining of falling earnings as both companies have reduced incentive payouts. Further, these companies continue to maintain rock bottom fares as they fear losing customers if prices are increased.
On Wednesday, a petition in the Karnataka High Court to expedite the hearing of Uber's appeal against the judgement of single judge bench on the on-demand taxi aggregator rules in the state, was adjourned on technical grounds. The case, by the Tourist Taxi Association, if taken up will be heard in a week's time and would once again look into the validity of the state to regulate aggregators such as Uber and Ola.