Blueline drivers go on strike

The Delhi government on Monday said that strict action will be taken against striking Blueline bus drivers for exploiting the situation and blackmailing the government.

The Blueline bus drivers have gone on a token one-day strike to protest the ongoing police drive against them.

"Strict action will be taken against the drivers trying to blackmail the government and exploit the situation," State Transport minister Haroon Yusuf said.

Only 1,500 Blueline buses and 3,000 Delhi Transport Corporation buses plied on the road on Monday, leaving commuters stranded during the morning office hours.

As many as 500 buses were impounded in the last week for violating the Motor Vehicles Act while over 100 drivers were arrested for violating various traffic rules, claimed Shyam Lal Gola of the Delhi Bus Ekta Manch.

The drive against Blueline buses has been initiated in view of the public outrage against the private fleet involved in a killing spree on Delhi roads.

"The drivers are refusing to ply the buses. They allege that they were wrongly booked. Challans were being wrongly issued and they were being forced to pay because of the fault of a handful of drivers," Gola said.