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Truckers on strike in Punjab,
elsewhere
WSN Network
AMRITSAR: One of
the best recalled images of throbbing activity in
Punjab
has dulled this week as the roaring trucks on its roads have come to
a stand still. Following a strike call of the All-India Motor
Transport Congress (AIMTC), trucks across
Punjab are not
moving anymore though in some areas the strike was partial.
Even
transportation of essential items was not being allowed. Truckers
are demanding a reduction in diesel prices by Rs.10 a litre and tyre
prices by 35 per cent, withdrawal of service tax on truckers,
postponement on all installments besides deferring interest on loans
for six months. They also have demanded free movement of trucks
across the country.
Earlier,Truck
operators had deferred strike planned on December 20 due to the
Mumbai terror attacks.
The talks with
the federa government broke down last Sunday and some one crore
trucks across the country stopped plying.
Transporters
accused that the government with favouring the aviation sector, by
providing it fuel at a heavily subsidised Rs. 29 a litre on credit
for 90 days. On the other hand, prices of petroleum products had
fallen from $147 to $38 in the international market and the
reduction in diesel price was a mere Rs. 2 a litre.
7 January 2009
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