Indefinite nationwide truck strike begins
Kolkata, June 18 : Truck owners and operators launched an indefinite nationwide strike on Monday against increasing diesel prices and a sharp hike of third party insurance premium.
"The indefinite strike against the soaring diesel prices and steep rise in the third party insurance premium begun this morning. About 90 lakh trucks are expected to be off the road and as of now, over 60 per cent trucks were not plying on the roads across India," the All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners' Associations President Channa Reddy told IANS.
"The government's argument is that the fuel price increase was due to international prices. However, we think the reason for price increase is not due to international prices but high taxes levied by the governments, Centre and the states," Reddy said.
Demanding the inclusion of diesel prices or petroleum products in the ambit Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators' Association Joint Secretary Sajal Ghosh said there has been a good response in the state where about 3.5 lakh trucks would not ply on the roads.
He said the Federation is also protesting police and Motor Vehicle Department officials' alleged excesses in the state.
Moreover, truck owners requested the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India to detariff the third party insurance premium as it has done in the case of comprehensive insurance policy, Reddy said.
"Since the trend of annual increase of third party insurance premium has been continuing for last 15 years even after opening of the insurance sector. To stop the increase per year, we have requested the IRDAI to detariff this. But, the authority has not responded to our demand," Reddy added.
The strike is likely to cause a hike in prices of perishable goods items due to supply constraint.
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Ex-Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh seriously hurt in stone pelting on his car
Nagpur, Nov 18: Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh was seriously injured after stones were hurled at his car in Nagpur district on Monday night, police said.
The incident occurred around 8 pm when Deshmukh was returning to Katol after attending a meeting in Narkhed village.
Some unidentified persons threw stones at Deshmukh's car near Belphata on the Jalalkheda Road near Katol. Deshmukh, who sustained injuries during the attack, was immediately rushed to the Katol Civil Hospital, police said.
Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police, Harssh Poddar, confirmed the incident. He said senior officers were rushed to the spot.
"An investigation has begun. Police are trying to identify those responsible for the attack," he said.
The incident occurred on the last day of campaigning for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.
Deshmukh's son Salil Deshmukh is contesting from the Katol assembly constituency on the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) ticket against BJP's Charansingh Thakur.
नागपुर के पास काटोल में NCP शरद पवार गुट के नेता अनिल देशमुख पर हुआ हमला#AnilDeshmukh | Anil Deshmukh | #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/Fg16WRa66u
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) November 18, 2024
#BREAKING 🚨 | Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was injured in a stone-pelting attack on Katol-Jalalkheda Road after a rally. His vehicle was damaged, and he received emergency treatment.#AnilDeshmukh #AttackonAnilDeshmukh #Katoljalalkhedaroad #attack pic.twitter.com/5WxQrMxGU0
— Lokmat Times Nagpur (@LokmatTimes_ngp) November 18, 2024
