Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, 27 June warned that competing ride-hailing platforms cutting fares below sustainable levels to counter the newly launched Bharat Taxi cooperative would ultimately damage their financial performance and market valuations. Shah made the remarks while addressing the launch of Bharat Taxi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, positioning the cooperative as a long-term alternative to profit-driven aggregators.

What Shah Said About Rival Platforms

Shah alleged that established ride-hailing companies had responded to Bharat Taxi's entry into their markets by slashing fares and offering higher driver commissions — a strategy he described as unsustainable. 'If the competition is being carried out unfairly, with business being run at a loss, then everyone will see their balance sheets on March 31. Everyone will see them and will come to know,' he said.

He added that investor scrutiny would compound the problem. 'Those who are preparing for valuation will find that, because of this, their valuation itself will decline. And this is no rocket science. Balance sheets are publicly analysed in a critical manner,' Shah asserted.

Appeal to Drivers and Customers

Shah urged drivers — referred to as Sarathis — not to be swayed by short-term financial incentives offered by rival platforms. 'My request to all the Sarathis, and also to all the customers, is that for a consistent and long-lasting transport service, it is the responsibility of both the customers and the Sarathis to make Bharat Taxi successful. You stay committed, and Bharat Taxi will stand by you,' he said.

He framed the cooperative as a vehicle for dignity and financial security, saying it was built to end driver exploitation and eventually provide members with access to loans, insurance, and business expansion support.

Cooperative Model Versus Private Competition

Drawing on India's cooperative history, Shah cited Amul, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) as examples of cooperatives that withstood private competition and continued to grow. 'Did Amul not have to face competition from private dairies? Did IFFCO, KRIBHCO and NDDB not have to face private organisations?' he asked, arguing that Bharat Taxi could follow the same trajectory.

He described Bharat Taxi as member-owned, saying: 'This cooperative belongs to you. This cooperative exists to stop your exploitation. This cooperative exists to give you respect. This cooperative exists to make you prosperous.'

What Bharat Taxi Promises Members

Beyond ride-hailing, Shah outlined an expanding benefits framework for Sarathis. The cooperative, he said, would in the coming months facilitate loans, provide insurance cover, and support business expansion — services he argued no profit-first company could replicate. He concluded by urging drivers to remain committed, saying the cooperative's future would rest on service quality, member participation, and long-term sustainability rather than short-term pricing wars.