Truck Operators’ Strike: Vegetable Prices in Bengaluru Soar As Nationwide Strike Enters Third Day

Bengaluru, July 22: Vegetable prices in Bengaluru soared as the nationwide truck operators’ strike in Karnataka entered the third day on Sunday. The All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Association has given a call for a strike. Truck operators in the state joined the nationwide indefinite strike from July 20 to protest against unscientific pricing of petrol and diesel, hike in third party insurance premium, exorbitant toll charges and other issues affecting truck owners.

Reports inform that transport of all other goods will be affected from Monday excluding essential and emergency commodities. Earlier this week, Channa Reddy, president, All-India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owner's Association informed that repeated representations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi have failed to yield any result and truckers are forced to resort to the strike.

Reddy further added that they are expecting a response in four to five days, and till then the strike would continue. Among the other demands, the truck drivers are also protesting against what they claim is exorbitant toll collected on Highways. “We will not let oil supply be affected for now. If there is no response for four to five days, then we could stop that too,” Reddy said.

Shanmugappa, president of The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners & Agents Association demanded that the Centre reduce prices of diesel, make transparency and reduction in third-party insurance premium through exemption of GST on TPP, and abolish excess commission paid to agents through comprehensive policy.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2018 03:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).