Will not disrupt vehicular movement, but continue strike: Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh

As the ‘quit steering’ protest by Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh entered its fourth day on Friday, the outfit president Prashant Menduli announced that member drivers will not disrupt any vehicular movement, but will continue the stir so long as their demands are not met.

Also Read: Protest or politics? 10 big questions on Odisha drivers’ stir

Reportedly, the agitation has crippled transport and fuel supply across Odisha.

“Many of our brothers (members of the outfit) have become worried and are reluctant to continue the sit-in. They want to get down to the roads. However, we have decided that we will peacefully continue our strike for an indefinite period,” the outfit president stated.

“We are not keen to indulge in any confrontation with all the political parties. Congress is a bigger organisation than us. We had previously tussled with BJD (during the Naveen-led government) to get our demands fulfilled. Now, we are fighting for our rights with the BJP government. Hence, after the Congress chief (Bhakta Das) approached me, I agreed to his proposal and decided not to hinder their movement,” Menduli said to mediapersons.

“We are not opposed to any of the political parties,” the Mahasangh chief asserted.

Worth mentioning, the union’s earlier decision to temporarily relax its protest for the Congress party’s rally in Bhubaneswar had invited sharp criticism from across the State.

While the drivers’ association still maintains that its demands are apolitical and centred on drivers’ rights, recent developments have raised more questions than answered.

In a video message released late last night, the Mahasangh chief had stated that vehicles associated with the Congress party would not be stopped during the protest on July 11. The union had taken this decision following a request from Congress president Das.