A girl in a traditional Gorkha dress dances at a programme organised by the Morcha in Kalimpong on Tuesday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Siliguri, Oct. 14: The Citu-affiliated taxi drivers’ union here has decided to go on an indefinite strike from October 19 to protest against the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s announcement that taxis to the hills must use “GL” number plates by replacing ones with “WB”.

“We are not ready to violate the motor vehicles’ act and ply vehicles sporting ‘GL’ number plates. That is why we had sought protection from the administration,” Ajoy Chakraborty, the president of the Citu-affiliated North Bengal Taxi and Private Car Drivers’ Union, said here today.

“Since there has been no response so far, we have decided to approach the regional transport authority officials again on October 18. In case the situation remains same, we will stop plying all light vehicles to the hills from the next day.”

The decision comes after some drivers of the New Jalpaiguri station unit of the union were beaten up by a group of youths in Dilaram, who said the taxis carrying tourists should have sported “GL”.

The incident follows two days after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha made it “mandatory” for all vehicles to the hills to sport the “new” number plates.

“The incident had a serious repercussion and most of our members are scared of going to the hills,” Chakraborty said. “Many tourists, too, are changing plans on reaching New Jalpaiguri, Bagdogra or Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus. They are either opting for Sikkim or the Dooars.”

The Citu leader said a convention would be held here on Thursday. District leaders of the Citu and representatives of different unions of the transport sector will participate in the meet to discuss the “GL” problem.

Drivers and vehicle owners said “diktats of this nature” were already affecting their business.

“In tourist seasons, at least 700-800 light vehicles move to Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Gangtok from Siliguri everyday,” said Kamal Khawas, the secretary of the Siliguri Taxi Owners’ Association. “Nowadays, the figure has come down to 350-400, with most of vehicles moving to Sikkim, instead of Darjeeling.”