Truck operators go on 2-day strike

Truck operators across the country today started two-day strike against the GST, high diesel prices and harassment on roads, according to the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).

"We have launched two-day 'chakka jam' (strike) from today morning as we had announced. Transporters all over the country are up in the arms against GST, diesel prices, harassment of truck operators and corruption on roads and toll policies," said Bal Malkit Singh, chairman of the core committee of AIMTC.

In Mumbai, truck-operators would be staging a sit-in at Mankhurd check-post today, he said.

Trucks were seen off the roads in the city since morning, with most transport vehicles parked near check posts on highways.

Singh claimed that several other transporter bodies have supported the strike. If it caused inconvenience to people, the government should be held responsible, he said.

Over 93 lakh truck operators and other transporters in the country are suffering "huge losses and harassment" due to "suffocative policies" of the government, and all of them were on strike today, he said.

"This is our token strike, and if the government does not do the needful, we will call an indefinite strike after Diwali," he said.

Federation of Bombay Motor Transport Operators, Bombay Transport Cooperative Consumers Society, Maharashtra Tanker Lorry Owners Association are also taking part in the strike, he said.

"It is high time the government rationalised taxes on diesel and reduce its prices in line with the international market. Diesel must be brought under the ambit of GST to bring uniformity of pricing across the country, and the prices should be revised on quarterly basis," Singh said.