BENGALURU: The ongoing nationwide truckers’ strike entered its second day on Saturday with vehicles lying idle as talks between the truckers organisations and the government failed.
The striking organisations are unwilling to back down on their demands including a drop in diesel price. There was widespread support for the strike in spite of the drop in earnings that it is causing truckers.
Hanumanth, who hails from Raichur, is the owner cum driver of a truck. He operates between Bengaluru and Kalaburagi, carrying liquor from Bengaluru and in return getting tur dal and other pulses.
“I earn around `50,000 a month, half of which goes to paying my truck loan. If there is no work, I will lose my earnings. But the strike called is for our sake so we have to support it,” he said.
On Saturday, making the best of the strike, he was busy getting his truck serviced from the local mechanic. “It is a six-wheeler and it will take the entire day.
I am making the best use of time,’’ he said. Dhananjay, who owns seven trucks, says he is losing at least `20,000 per trip.
“I know it is a huge loss, but diesel price is `71 per litre. If these prices come down, even the groceries’ price will come down as the transportation cost will be reduced. This is why we are supporting the strike,” he added.