Truckers associations divided over stir

G R Shanmugam, general secretary, SIMTA told DTNext that the indefinite strike would continue and that they had also received support from Indian gas and petrol transport associations, who plan to join the strike from Monday.

However, some associations stayed away from the strike. Murugan, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation said, “Our association has around 3 lakh lorries and we are not participating in the strike. Nearly 85 per cent of our lorries are plying in the state. 

So, movement of goods and services has not been affected.” However, he charged that many lorries, which were not participating in the strike, had been attacked across the state and stern action should be taken in such cases by the police. 

Similarly, P V Subramani, vice president, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), said, “Our association has supported the strike and the Centre has assured to consider our demands.” He added that the AIMTC has already announced that it would go on strike from April 20, if their demands were not met.

SIMTA members also said that an association from Bengaluru would join the strike from April 1 (Saturday) and the strike might get intensified. However, some association members said that strike would come to an end by Friday night or Saturday. 

“The strike has hit the day-to-day operations in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Namakkal districts badly. If it continues, prices of essential commodities will skyrocket,” warned a member of SIMTA. It has caused much inconvenience to traders and public in most of the districts. 

It may be recalled that the lorry owners commenced their strike on March 30 demanding roll back of VAT and the same on insurance premium on trucks. Though government held talks with the protesters, it did not bear fruit. The associations representatives were expected to hold one more round of talks with the Centre and state soon.