Jai Ram Thakur ends taxi operators’ hunger strike, union backs BJP for 2027 polls

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Taxi union leaders thank Jai Ram Thakur, announce support for BJP in 2027 Assembly elections

Shimla, August 28

The protest by the All Himachal Taxi Operators Union took a significant turn on Raksha Bandhan, as Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur ended the five-day hunger strike by taxi operators at Chaura Maidan in Shimla on Friday.

During the development, the union announced its open support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2027 Assembly elections.

Union representatives Ram Ratan Sharma, Abhi Thakur and Poonam Negi alleged that the state government had failed to take their demands seriously. They said that on the third day of the hunger strike, attempts were made to remove the protesters from the protest site citing medical fitness concerns.

Thakur subsequently reached the protest site and listened to the concerns of the taxi operators. He accused the government of adopting an insensitive approach towards their demands and said the BJP stood with taxi operators in their interests.

Thakur assured the protesters that their demands would be raised at the government level and that the entire matter would also be taken up with the Centre. He said efforts would be made to address issues concerning the interests of taxi operators.

The union leaders expressed gratitude to Thakur for visiting the protest site and hearing their concerns. They alleged that the state government had not supported them during their difficulties, while Thakur personally came to meet them.

The union leaders also recalled the support extended by the then BJP government to taxi, truck and bus operators during the COVID-19 period. They said that although the operators had opposed the then BJP government during the pandemic, Thakur’s current intervention had changed their position.

The union announced that it would support the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections and stand with Thakur in the future. Slogans including “What should our Chief Minister be like? Like Jairam Thakur” were also raised at the protest site.