All J&K Transport Welfare Association, a Jammu-based organisation of public and commercial vehicles operators, Sunday called for a state-wide strike of the transporters on June 4 against non fulfillment of demands by the government .
Addressing a press conference chairman of the association TS Wazir said the state government was ignoring their demands despite assurance given by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in presence of the chief secretary during a meeting held few months ago. He said the strike is also against the sharp hike of petrol and diesel prices.
Wazir said the central and the state governments were sucking the blood of the transporters by increasing taxes, insurance and also continuously increasing the prices of petrol and diesel, “ the governments has failed to control the prices,” he said
“We approached the state government many times for the revision of the passenger fare and also submitted a memorandum on other issues, including rising cost of operations but nothing has happened so far,” Wazir said. “We even met the deputy CM, who is also transport minister of the state but nothing has been done so far. Instead of this, so many other problems which are already in the notice of the government have remained unresolved. Due to steep hike in the petroleum products many vehicles will come off the road,” he added.
Wazir further said the government was forcing the transporters to come out on the roads to lodge their protest and suspend operation of vehicles.
He said all transporters have decided to observe one day token strike across the state and wheels of all type passenger and commercial vehicles will remain jammed on June 4 from Lakhanpur to Ladakh and and if, the demands remained unresolved transporters will go on indefinite strike and the government will be responsible for the inconvenience to the general public.
This post was published on June 3, 2018