Division among truckers’ bodies takes steam off strike

The truckers strike called on Monday did not elicit huge response with most of the lorries and goods vehicles operating as usual, due to the divide between two truckers associations.

The call for indefinite strike from Monday was given by All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners’ Associations (AICGVOA) led by B Channa Reddy. However, another group, the South India Motor Transport Association (Simta) headed by G Shanmugappa had not supported the move and set June 20 as the date for commencing the strike.

However, the reasons for which these associations have called for strike are not different. Goods transporters are frustrated with “arbitrary increase” in fuel and insurance costs. They had also requested the central government to remove 370 toll booths by offering to make one time payment of Rs 18,000 crore.

The strike had minimum effect on goods transportation in the state and there were no problems with the supply of essential
commodities. At Yeshwantpur APMC yard, only some stalls had remained closed and business continued as usual in others.

Reddy claimed that the strike call received good response. “Many operated trucks as they were unaware of the strike call. We told them not to ply again till the strike ends,” Reddy said, adding that the support was good in south Karnataka compared to the northern parts.

Shanmugappa contended that there was no strike at all. “The operations on Monday were normal. Truckers across the country have decided to go on strike from July 20, when all the tolls will be monitored and lorries will stay off the roads,” he said.

Though the number of trucks that stayed off roads was small the support for strike by petrol and diesel tankers’ association may hit fuel supply in the next two days.