Cabbies return to road after Patil's assurance

Mumbai, Feb 7 (UNI) The strike called by the Mumbai Taxi Union in protest against the violence, unleashed allegedly by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers, evoked a mixed response as majority of taxis did not join the call.

Initially, most cabbies remained off the road but after Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil assured a delegation of the taxi unions, which met him today, that the state would provide full security to the taximen, most of the cabs were back on the road in no time.

However, President of the Congress-backed Airport Taxi Union, Kanhaiya Singh claimed that the taxis were still on strike and had downed their meters.

There are 55,000 taxis in the city, which are being represented by various unions, owing allegiance to major political parties in the city.

UNI IAS-JN SR SY ND1732