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Bihar truckers not to join all-India strike

Patna: The Bihar Motor Transporters on Monday announced that they would not join the strike called by the All- India Motor Transport Congress since Monday midnight, saying the strike would affect the state’s development.

The state is on development path where roads, bridges and culverts are being constructed at a great pace, going on indefinite strike at this juncture would affect Bihar’s development particularly in the event of Kosi deluge, said Bihar Motor Transport Federation president Uday Shanker Prasad Singh. On being asked whether state government has made any promise to look into their demands, Mr. Singh said, we did not have any dialogue with the government on the issue. We took the decision (of not going on strike) on our own in a review meeting of the federation.

Terming the All-India Motor Transport Congress’(AIMTC) demand of lowering the VAT as rubbish, Mr. Singh said it was a conspiracy to mislead the truckers as they will not have any direct profit or loss with the lowering of VAT.

He claimed the strike would have little impact as the majority of truckers (nearly 40 lakh truck operators across the country) were not participating in the strike. Hauliers main demands are -- lowering diesel prices by Rs.10 per litre, withdrawal of service tax on truckers, a moratorium on all instalments and waiver of interest on truck finance for at least six months, providing free movement of trucks in the country without any national or state permit.- PTI

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