KOCHI: The Samyuktha Motor Thozhilali Co-ordination Committee has said that a state-wide strike will be organised on July 1 and 2 demanding the withdrawal of the Motor Vehicle Tax and the Insurance premium hikes. “Though the government has hiked the bus fares, a decision on auto and taxi fare are yet to be taken. Hence, we have decided to form a joint committee and to conduct district conventions before June 2.
District-level rallies will be organised between June 10 and 20. A march will be conducted to the RTO office on June 24,” said general convener P Nandakumar.
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation issued a statement in protest against the decision to organise the strike. “The decision by the Union to call the strike will hit the crisis-stricken private bus sector hard. “The taxes were hiked in last year’s budget. At that time, the Union did not raise any hue and cry. But a strike at this point of time, when all the vehicle owners have already paid their insurance premium and taxes, cannot be justified,” said Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation president M B Sathyan.
Earlier, CPI(ML) state committee had alleged that the bus fare hike was a secret game between the bus owners and the government.