CHENNAI: Political parties have urged the Centre to take steps to end the truckers strike through negotiations even as the indefinite strike entered fifth day on Tuesday affecting movement of goods.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) State secretary K Balakrishnan said, “The Centre, without delaying further, should immediately hold talks with the truck operators and fulfil their demands in order to find an amicable solution.”
He condemned the callous attitude of both the Central and State governments for the strike.
As trucks ferrying rice, dal and vegetables from other states into Tamil Nadu could not be operated due to the strike, prices of these essential goods have increased, he said. Stating that the strike has led to shortage of construction materials, vegetables, fruits and other edibles, R Mutharasan, State secretary of Communist Party of India (CPI), urged the Centre to talk to the representatives of the truckers to end the stir.
He asked the Union government to realise the fact that the demands raised by the striking truck operators are not concerned only with them but also the general public. Meanwhile, truck operators continued their stir for the fifth day on Tuesday.Bal Malkit Singh, chairman of core committee of All Idia Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), said, “Till date, there have been no reconciliatory talks to resolve the issues. We hope for positive results on the legitimate demands.”He affirmed that the movement will get intensified in the days to come as more and more associations are extending support to the stir which began on July 20 demanding revision of fuel prices, rationalising road toll collection and slashing third party insurance premium.