Bengaluru feels the pinch after govt's Ola ban, demands protection for startups

By Team MyNationFirst Published Mar 24, 2019, 4:49 PM IST
Highlights

Ola, one of the most-used cab services in Bengaluru, was issued a notice on Friday suspending its license for violating Karnataka government's safety rules  

Bengaluru: Days after the Karnataka government issued a notice to Ola cabs over the suspension of license for violating the Karnataka government's safety rule, after several people showcased their displeasure over the ban and began to demand justice for the Ola cab drivers in Bengaluru. 

Earlier, on February 15, the RTO sent a notice to the Ola Cabs seeking an explanation as to why the company flouted rules and asked them to provide substantial reason as to why the license should not be cancelled as per section II (1) of the Karnataka on demand Transpiration Technology Aggregators Rules 2016.

Taking to social media, several people demanded an explanation over the ban and also claimed that the state government is destroying the startups in the state capital and technology hub, Bengaluru.

Twitterati began to flood with #StopDestroyingStartUps where several people began to support Ola cabs and also questioned why the state government is not taking the initiative to ban the services of Rapido (A two-wheeler taxi app), but is targeting the Ola. 

 

The OlaCab Service Ban in Bangalore is the example of how the government high-handedness and regulation overdose can kill genuine enterprise. https://t.co/tBkQQamJ0G

— Aashish Chandorkar (@c_aashish)

 

 

The drivers on the Ola network are all hardworking sons of the Karnataka soil. Why is state government destroying the livelihood of its own people through OlaCab Service Ban? Please use hashtag to put pressure on Karnataka govt.
https://t.co/B1CuK2dpHs

— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13)


With several voices raised against the Karnataka government, state Congress' social welfare minister Priyank Kharge, in his tweet said, "@Olacabs will run their business as usual from today. However there is an urgent need for policies to catch-up with new technologies & also industries too should work closer with Govt to help evolve policies for innovations." 

 

. will run their business as usual from today. However there is an urgent need for policies to catch-up with new technologies & also industries too should work closer with Govt to help evolve policies for innovations.

— Priyank Kharge (@PriyankKharge)

In his recent tweet, Priyank Kharge said, "Have spoken to Sri. @CMofKarnataka & Sri @DrParameshwara & will have it resolved by tomorrow. Our Govt will maintain a healthy balance between investors, industries, consumers & welfare within the ambit of law."

 

Have spoken to Sri. & Sri & will have it resolved by tomorrow. Our Govt will maintain a healthy balance between investors, industries, consumers & welfare within the ambit of law. https://t.co/qPtfJhsMIq

— Priyank Kharge (@PriyankKharge)

The clash between Ola and the Karnataka government began in January, where the popular cab service began to run bike taxis in certain areas in Bengaluru. But, the bike taxi service was a "beta pilot" project to gather further data for when the state's policy allowed bike taxis.

Presently, Ola has invested $100 million in a domestic scooter sharing start-up Vogo, that provides services in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

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