Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, Aug 9: The Taxi Operators and Owners Union Kargil observed a complete shutdown in Kargil district today against what they termed the “monopoly” of a particular Taxi Union in Leh district after Ladakh was made a Union Territory.
A union member said they used to have an All J&K permit to operate anywhere in the erstwhile State, however since Ladakh became a Union Territory, they are being prevented from operating on inner routes in Leh which is injustice with them. Talking to our correspondent, he said that the Union members are on an indefinite strike from the past five days.
They said that Kargil based vehicles are stopped at illegal checkposts set up by the Leh Taxi Union at various places on inner routes of Leh District. They demanded that the Rule of Law must be implemented in the UT so that their valid legal permits could enable them to travel on all routes within the UT.
However, inaction on the part of the UT Administration Ladakh has forced them to give a Kargil Bandh call today which was supported by all religious, social, merchants and transport union.
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The members of the union, who are already on an indefinite hunger strike demanding permission to ply Kargil based taxis across Ladakh like they used to in the erstwhile Ladakh region. They said that the UT administration seems least bothered about their grievances.
Shutdown call was announced during a press conference today at Press Club Kargil by the MD Taxi Union Kargil, Mohammad Hassan Pasha and Union President Taxi operators Kargil.
Members of all other Transport Union were also present on the occasion to support the strike.
Besides, all the social, religious, trade and students’ bodies including the Anjuman Jammiatul Ulama Asna Asharia (AJUAAK), the IKMT and the Anjuman Saheb Zaman Kargil also extended their support to the strike call by the taxi union.
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