Truckers call off strike after assurance from Karnataka govt
Bengaluru, Apr 17 (PTI): Truckers associated with the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Associations (FOKSLOAA) on Thursday called off their strike after state Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy agreed to most of their demands.
The FOKSLOAA, with 129 truckers’ associations and six lakh members, commenced their protest on Monday night with a host of demands, including a reduction in diesel prices and toll-related problems faced by the truckers.
Transport Minister Reddy confirmed that the strike has been called off.
"I have told them that I would look into most of their demands, including the one related to check posts at the border areas," Reddy told PTI.
He said he has assured the FOKSLOAA delegation that a committee would be formed which will decide within three to four months about the role and responsibility of the check posts.
About the no-entry inside the Bengaluru city, the minister said he will speak to the Bengaluru Police Commissioner.
"I have told the truck drivers to complete their work between 7 AM and 8 AM," Reddy said.
He said he also agreed for the online fine payment for the truckers.
The minister said he has also assured them to set up more centres to renew their driving licence.
"Their demand for diesel price reduction and abolition of toll plaza was unrelated to us. I told them to first speak to the Centre before coming to us," Reddy said.
FOKSLOAA general secretary Somasundaram Balan said the strike has been called off. Except for diesel price reduction and toll related issues, all the demands have been fulfilled, he added.
According to Balan, the minister assured them that tariff charges of trucks will be given to the truckers within a month. A committee would be formed which will fix the rates.
Regarding the toll charges, the FOKSLOAA general secretary said the minister assured the delegation that it will be borne by the consigner or consignee and not the truckers.
FOKSLOAA president G R Shanmugappa told reporters after meeting with the minister that his federation had put forth five issues before the Karnataka government, which were genuine.
"We have raised the issue of border check posts of the Road Transport Office (RTO). These check posts have been removed in most of the states. So why is it still operating in Karnataka? Why is money collected there and why is RTO creating problem there? The minister assured us that within three months the state would take a call on scrapping them after studying the abolition of check posts in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh," Shanmugappa said.
Regarding the diesel price, Shanmugappa said there were fixed transportation charges for the autorickshaws, hail riding taxis and buses, but no such mechanism existed for trucks for the past 25 years. "The minister has said within a month the rent will be fixed, which is a matter of joy for us," he added.
The representatives of the truckers’ body had twice held discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Reddy on Tuesday, which remained inconclusive.
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Om Birla attends swearing-in of new B'desh PM, says India stands ready to support BNP govt
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday attended the swearing-in ceremony of new Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, and said India stands ready to support Bangladesh's endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation.
Separately, the speaker called on the new Bangladesh prime minister and conveyed the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also handed over an invitation from Prime Minister Modi to Rahman to visit India, officials said here.
“Glad to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka today. India stands ready to support Bangladesh’s endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation,” Birla posted on X.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said in a post on X, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveys his greetings to India and PM Narendra Modi to the visiting India Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a courtesy meet following the swearing-in of the new government.
“Speaker Birla conveyed wishes and an invitation to India. Both leaders expressed optimism to work together for the well-being of the people of Bangladesh and India, pursuing a people-centric menu of cooperation.”
Birla also met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.
Led by Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept to power with a two-thirds majority with 49.97 per cent votes and 209 seats in the polls held on February 12, results for which were declared on February 13.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, which was opposed to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, registered its best-ever performance with 31.76 per cent votes and 68 seats.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) secured the third-highest number of seats, six, and 3.05 per cent votes.
Bangladesh had invited Narendra Modi to the ceremony, but the prime minister could not attend the event as he was scheduled to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday.
On reaching Dhaka, Birla said the swearing-in of Rahman was an important moment that would strengthen people-to-people relations and shared democratic values between the two neighbours.
“Honoured to be in Dhaka representing India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Tarique Rahman as the prime minister. It's an important moment that will strengthen people-to-people ties and shared democratic values between our two nations,” Birla said.
Birla was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials.
