Strike him out

Who gave Sharad Rao the power to hold citizens of Mumbai at ransom? Asks Neeta Kolhatkar

Now, every Diwali, since my college days at least (and that is well over two decades ago), Sharad Rao has held this city to ransom, demanding more than the usual pound of flesh. He sees the eve of Diwali, or any festival for that matter, as an opportunity to strike at the heart of the city. He seizes the opportunity and forces taxi drivers to go on strike, often for as long as three days.

Rao has always taken Mumbai's citizens for granted. His demands include, but are not limited to - increasing dearness allowances, housing allowances, bonuses and so on; allocations for these are made at the time of the budget. I figure Rao doesn't have any economic advisor or financial expert at his beck and call.

This time, in true form, he called for a bandh, making sure that autorikshaws and taxis stayed off the roads, to protest against the government's decision to phase out old vehicles. But let's be honest. In an era before CNG, those Premier Padminis did their bit to add to the pollution - most spewed black smoke.

Today, they run on CNG, thanks to a few environmentalists who filed a petition in the High Court demanding stricter anti-pollution norms. We forget, that world over, there are stringent anti-pollution norms where vehicles are phased out every five years. But in India, we are used to subsidies, and resort to short cuts.

It's not as if the ride is comfortable; sitting in those old vehicles is an experience one would rather forget in a hurry. The seats are low; the roof of the vehicle is even lower, and your head meets it every time the taxi hits a pothole - and this occurs with comforting regularity, every five metres. Then there's the permanent excuse that the CNG queues are too long, and more often than not, the driver tanks up on your time.

The monsoons add to the woes. For some reason, I can't fathom why, the seats always get wet. The driver is quick to blame the previous commuter for leaving the glass down, or the taxi owner for not providing plastic covers. He, of course, is blameless.

The truth is, that these obsolete vehicles need to be phased out completely. And don't get me started on auto-rickshaws; they need better shock-absorbers and sound proofing. And finally - and this is something no new vehicle can solve - the drivers need to be disciplined.

I pay all my taxes regularly, and have been doing so for more than a decade. I would like to know how, after demanding so many benefits for the workers and staff of the BMC, how their performances have improved? What have they done over the last decade? Have they become more accountable for their actions? Are they being assessed regularly? If any stern action is taken against them, they run to the union. It's time the judiciary take the bandh seriously. The High Court has penalised and taken action against political parties for calling bandhs.

And while our freedom to express opposing views and protests need a platform, calling a bandh is not the solution. In a democracy, it should be left to citizens to decide if they wish to go to work or not.

I have faced the wrath of local hoodlums the last time the Sena-BJP called for a bandh, in 2003. As I was walking through Girgaum, the local youth taunted and stalked me all the way to my workplace. At Charni Road Station, I saw hoodlums pull the chain of a local train, forcing people to vacate the train. In some instances, they even beat up those who tried to protest.

The Bombay High Court took strong action against the rioting parties at the time. I think this time, too, the HC should step in, and pull up Rao for the inconvenience he has caused us.

He should be fined for compelling drivers to stay out of work; his men pelted stones at other taxis. This is simply not done,

Sharad Rao drives a Pajero, and uses all the latest gadgets. He has sent his son to the US for further education. Every issue has political, social and economic implications, and this includes Rao's lifestyle and behaviour.

Sharad Rao is an old-time Union leader, and president of Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat. At one time, George Fernandes was his mentor. Now Rao and many of his followers may forget that if there was one leader who called for a Mumbai bandh, or a railway bandh, it was George Fernandes. He could stop the country's railways if he said so. In the 70s, Fernandes was at the peak of his power.

Now Rao thinks that he can take Fernandes' place. But even today, Fernandes' lifestyle and attire has not changed. He does not travel in a red beacon car. He still frequents Apurva and eats the local Manglorean-style fish, like any ordinary citizen. In addition, Fernandes had a mass support base. He contested and won elections, while Rao has been defeated by Mohan Rawale, the Sena Member of Parliament.

I understand the demands of the workers. I also know of social activists who have devoted their lives to better the conditions of the sewage, man-hole cleaners and garbage collectors. But what about the rest of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation staff and their work ethics?

The workers stand in queue from 4.45pm, if 5.00pm is their out time. The whole system serves to pamper the staff. It is time the Court, or some authority, change the highhandedness of union leaders like Sharad Rao.
It is time, as tax payers, to say NO to such highhandedness. We need better roads - pot-hole free ones, better sewage and drainage facilities. We need more drinking water and hey, we want well-maintained taxis and atuos. If that means old ones need to be thrown out, then we have to find the means of doing so, and help owners and drivers with loan and repayment facilities.

But calling for a bandh is not the answer.