Hunger strike on: Ola, Uber drivers protest in Bengaluru over reduced pay

There are over 100,000 cabs attached to Uber and Ola on Bengaluru's roads

Drivers attached to Uber and Ola in Bengaluru started their hunger strike at Freedom Park here on Wednesday to protest against falling earnings on the cab-hailing platforms.

Uber and Ola have remained mum on what steps they would take to solve the issue. Driver associations in the city have sought support of 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 he would get them 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 the drivers, have seen some violence. Two drivers had 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 more than 100,000 cabs attached to Uber and Ola on Bengaluru’s roads. Drivers have been complaining of falling earnings as both companies have reduced incentives. These companies have also kept fares rock-bottom 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 verdict of a 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, might be heard in a week and would once again look into the validity of the state to regulate aggregators such as Uber and Ola.