HYDERABAD: Lorry owners in the state have not joined the nationwide strike which commenced on Monday. There are two major lorry owners’ unions in the country _ All India Confederation of Goods Vehicles Owners’ Associations (AICGVO) and All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).
The strike call was given by AICGVO and AIMTC has kept away from it. Since AIMTC is not observing the strike, the state lorry owners’ association, Telangana Lorry Owners’ Association (TLOA), which is affiliated to AIMTC, is also not taking part in it. Instead, the two bodies have called for an indefinite strike from July 20.
“Ours is the oldest union in the country and we are not joining the strike called by them (AICGVO),” said N Bhaskar Reddy, president of TLOA. “The main aim for the strike is to demand that the government bring fuel under the ambit of GST. If not, fuel prices will continue to soar,” he explained.
The two other demands of the trade union are a reduction in the charges collected at toll gates on empty trucks and a reduction in interest rates on availing third-party liability insurance.
The TLOA boasts of membership of owners of about 2 lakh lorries, and an indefinite strike by them can have a severe impact on the sale of perishable goods.