Truckers say will go on strike, then call it off

The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) called a nation-wide strike on Saturday only to call it off late in the day.

The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) called a nation-wide strike on Saturday only to call it off late in the day.

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The strike was called in protest against the government’s failure to reduce toll tax and to take a re-look at the toll policy. Under the strike, nearly 62 lakh trucks, across the country, were to stay off roads indefinitely from August 6.

The AIMTC’s other demands included the revision of diesel prices and removal of anti-dumping duty on tyres, said sources.

Recently, Kamal Nath, minister of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), had stated that the government was trying to convince truckers not to go on a strike in public interest.

However, AIMTC has refused to budge and demanded a high-level probe into toll collection policy. It alleged that an "arbitrary" revision in toll rates in 2008 resulted in truckers paying a hefty Rs 5,000 crore per day as toll tax.

However, the truckers’ body called off the strike late on Saturday evening saying that the “agitation by AIMTC and SIMTA has been deferred till further notice on written assurance by the MoRTH to resolve the issues within 10 days.