State truckers' protest to continue as talks with CM fail to break deadlock

The indefinite strike of the truckers in Karnataka will continue as talks with chief minister Siddaramaiah failed to yield any breakthrough, a truckers' body office bearer said on Tuesday.

- Press Trust of India

BENGALURU:

Despite the chief minister's appeal to the truckers to call off the strike in public interest, the truckers refused to relent, citing the state government's failure to meet their demands including a reduction in diesel prices and concrete assurances on toll-related issues.

The strike launched at midnight between Monday and Tuesday, brought the movement of Karnataka-based trucks to a standstill affecting transportation of goods within and outside the state. The protest was spearheaded by the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association, which cited rising fuel prices and alleged harassment at toll plazas, as the main reason for the stir.

The association is an umbrella organisation of 129 truckers associations with six lakh members — drivers, agents and truck owners.

As the trucks remained stationed at the truck terminals across the state, due to the strike, the CM convened a meeting with the FOKSLOAA office bearers on Tuesday evening. The FOKSLOAA delegation led by its president GR Shanmugappa attended the meeting. The protesters were adamant about reduction of diesel prices, but the government rejected their demand. "The talks have failed. Our strike will continue. The government did not agree to reduce the diesel prices," FOKSLOAA general secretary Somasundaram Balan told PTI.