Shiv Sena launched a scathing attack on trade union leader Sharad Rao while empathising with the city commuters for their plight.
Close on the heels of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) hitting out at the auto unions for holding city to 'ransom' over their demands, its arch-rival Shiv Sena Wednesday launched a scathing attack on trade union leader Sharad Rao while empathising with the city commuters for their plight.
"Sharad Rao's auto union is behaving in an arrogant manner, which is causing inconvenience to the commuters. If they continue with their similar behaviour then Shiv Sena will come in support of the commuters," Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told reporters.
Raut's comments came in the background of MNS chief Raj Thakeray's resolve to protect Mumbaikars from "arrogant" auto drivers.
Singling out trade unionist Sharad Rao whose Mumbai Auto-rickshawmen's Union has threatened to go on indefinite strike next month, Raj Thackeray yesterday said his party would step in to counter the inconvenience caused to commuters due to their "arrogant" behaviour.
Reacting to Rao's statement that he would take out a protest march to 'Matoshree', residence of party supremo Bal Thackeray, Raut said, "the march has yet to reach Matoshree because last night the party workers assaulted two auto drivers in Shiv Sena style."
The party workers did not set the auto rickshaws on fire but instead assaulted the automen who were making preparations for the march, he added.
A section of auto rickshaws in the metropolis recently kept off roads to demand a fare hike causing a lot of inconvenience to thousands of commuters in suburbs.
Members of the Mumbai Autorickshaw men's union led by trade unionist Sharad Rao also staged protests near the transport commissioner's office in suburban Bandra for their demands. The union had said its protest was mainly for the revision of auto fares among other demands.
The protest was called off after the state government raised auto fares in suburban Mumbai and Thane.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}