Indian govt ropes in AIMTC's rival to break truckers strike

New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) The Indian government saturday
enlisted the services of striking truckers' rival union to
break the logjam that has pushed prices of essentials higher,
even as more states invoked ESMA to arrest those disrupting
goods movement.

The government, which Friday said it will ply 15-20
lakh trucks and let private vehicles carry goods without
permit, called a meeting with representatives of All India
Confederation of Goods Vehicles Owners' Associations (ACOGOA),
which claims command over 40 lakh trucks across the country.

"We have invited representatives of ACOGOA for a
meeting," Transport Ministry Joint Secretary S K Dash said,
without elaborating the agenda.

The ACOGOA is the rival union of All India Motor
Transport Congress, whose members have been on strike since
Sunday midnight demanding lower diesel prices, duty-free
import of tyres and exemption from service tax, among others.

The strike has sent prices of essential commodities
higher, while states initiated action against truckers. Madhya
Pradesh became the seventh state to invoke the Essential
Services Maintenance Act.

Emerging from the meeting, ACOGOA Vice-President
Chittranjan Dass said: "We are not participating in the
truckers strike."

Asked what was the meeting about, he said: "We discussed
our own issues... we requested the government to abolish the
import duty on radial tyres."

"They (govt) have assured us of a reduction in diesel
prices," he said, but did not divulge the specifics of the
expected price cuts.

ACOGOA President Channa Reddy, who also attended the
meeting said the association member have been transporting
goods wherever there are loads.

Reacting to the development, All India Motor Transport
Congress Vice-President Amolak Singh Bhatia said it was a move
by the government was indulging in a face saving exercise.

"The government wants to reduce diesel prices but wants
to give credit to ACOGOA instead of AIMTC," he said.

"The government may be trying to create an impression
that truckers' strike has been called off through an agreement
with ACOGOA," Bhatia apprehended.

Meanwhile, the AIMTC was searching for direction as the
union's top leadership had either been arrested or gone into
hiding. The West Bengal chapter of the union said it would
meet today to decide the further course of action.

Another truckers' body, which is also participating in
the strike, All India Transport Welfare Association President
Ramesh Agarwal refused to recognise the existence of
ACOGOA and said the strike will continue.

"We will continue with the strike and we will not hold
any talks with the government till AIMTC President and other
arrested members are released," he said, adding they were not
aware how many of their members have been arrested so far.

"The government is in panic and it is entirely
responsible for the ongoing strike," he added.

The strike entered the sixth day today even as Uttar
Pradesh, Goa, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat
and Andhra Pradesh invoked ESMA to let private vehicles ferry
goods without permits as also to enable impounding of
vehicles. PTI NAM
SAK
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