Taxi drivers launch strike to protest MNS attacks

Mumbai, Feb 7 (UNI) The Mumbai Taximen's Union announced a strike after around 15 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers attacked and ransacked the union's office at Tardeo here today.

Two employees in the union office were also assaulted, union general secretary A L Quadros claimed while speaking to reporters.

He alleged that ten to fifteen people had entered the office around noon and, thereafter, ransacked the office and assaulted the two employees.

Mr Quadros alleged that the miscreants were MNS workers who had raised the slogan of ''Raj Thackeray Zindabad''.

Most taxi drivers, incidentally, hail from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Mr Quadros said he had met Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil yesterday to apprise the minister about the fear among the taxi drivers because of the ongoing MNS agitation against the North Indians.

During the last couple of days, 40 to 50 taxis have been damaged by MNS workers while around 20 taxi drivers have been injured, Mr Quadros claimed.

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