Truckers 'postpone' strike following request from centre

Truckers on Friday "temporarily postponed" their ongoing indefinite nationwide strike following a request from the Central government as Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari was out of station.

The strike, that began from June 18, had been called from June 18 against the high diesel prices, high toll rates and a sharp hike of third party insurance premium, and had entered the fifth day on Friday.

In a media release, All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners' Association -- which had called the strike -- said the decision was taken following a telephone call from the Centre, which asked the strikers to come for discussion after June 27.

"We have received telephone call from (the) Central ministry, that since the Minister is not in station till June 27, (they have requested us) to call off the strike and come for discussion after June 27," said AICOGOA General Secretary Rajendra Singh and President B. Channa Reddy.

"In view of this and in public interest, we have (decided to) postpone the truckers' strike," they said.

The AICOGOA said the call for talks was received from Gadkari's office.

"We received call from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's office and they have called us to talk... We have temporarily called off the strike because it was affecting truckers and people both," another AICOGOA General Secretary Kausar Hussain told IANS.

Over 50 lakh vehicles remained off the road during the strike.

--IANS

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