Mumbai taxi union calls off their strike

Mumbai taxi union has called off their strike after State Home Minister R R Patils assured them of justice and their safety.

Mumbai, Feb 7 : Mumbai taxi union has called off their strike after State Home Minister R R Patil's assured them of justice and their safety.

They had decided to go on a strike to protest against the attack on taxi union office by suspected members of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena today.

Mobsters, suspected to be activists of MNS, attacked the office of Mumbai Taxi Union at Central Mumbai. Stones were thrown at the office and property was also damaged.

Taxi union president A I Qadros had earlier said that the taxi drivers would go on strike if they were not compensated for the attacks.

The strike will be for indefinite period unless taxi drivers are provided adequate security, the Union said.

Eighty per cent of Mumbai's 55,000 taxis are member of the union.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is in Delhi to discuss the options available, which could be taken against MNS Chief Raj Thackeray.

''For an arrest warrant, we are seeking the opinion of the Advocate General. Police will take action accordingly,'' Deshmukh said.

MNS activists had been assaulting the north Indian taxi drivers for past few days.

"The situation in many parts of Mumbai, like Worli is not good, we drivers do not go to those places even if offered a good deal," said Sarju Mahto, a taxi driver.

Earlier, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has reportedly made derogatory remarks against 'Chhat Puja' saying it was a "drama."

ANI