Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 28: The truck owners, who were on a strike since a week in support of their demand for free passage at tollgates, bringing of diesel under GST and reducing its price etc since July 20, called off strike on Friday July 27 after the discussions their leaders held with the representatives of the central government proved a success. The strike was convened under the banner of All India Motor Transport Congress.

After the central government intervened and held discussions, the truck owners decided to withdraw their agitation.

Since a week, about 6.5 lac goods transport trucks and about 90 lac trucks nation-wide had stopped moving. Most of these trucks were lined up on the side of national highways. As a result, export and import of goods suffered and shortage of provisions and vegetables was felt all over the country. Raw materials like chemicals, paper, clothes etc could not be supplied to industries and lives of lacs of people who solely depended on transport vehicles for a living were left high and dry. The loss to the truck owners and government due to this agitation has been estimated to run into thousands of crores of rupees.

President of Lorry Owners Association, G R Shanmugappa, said that the demand of truckers was marginal, and since a week they had to stop movement of trucks to meet this small demand. He said that owners of all the goods and transport vehicles had supported this strike. "During the period of our discussions with the central government, the government said it has decided to meet our demands. Therefore, we have decided to temporarily withdraw this strike," he explained.

The withdrawal of truck strike has come as a relief for common people, government, workers and others who are dependent on transport business.