Patiala: As more then 134 trucker’s union across the state are to observe 9th July as statewide strike the smooth movement of goods across Punjab is set to be effected. The move came on Thursday when the truckers were protesting against the Punjab government’s decision to abolish the unions.
The unions held a protest rally today that was attended by thousands of truck operators.
On the other hand the government while clearing its stand on the issue has stated that the move is aimed at preventing the cartelisation of goods transport, for that purpose the Punjab cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to the Punjab Goods Carriages (Regulation and Prevention of Cartelisation Rules), 2017, which bars goods carriage operators from forming cartels or unions in the state.
Over 10,000 people, primarily truck operators, drivers and their staff, attended the rally at Patiala Grain Market.
While interacting with the media president, All-Punjab Truck Operators’ Union Happy Sandhu claimed that the All-India Motor Transport Congress as well as the Himachal Pradesh unit have extended their support to the stir of the Punjab truck operators.
Kultaran Singh Atwal, chairman of AIMTC and Krishan Saini from Baddi reportedly attended the “Truck Union Bachao Rally” organised by the All-Punjab Truck Operator Union on Thursday.
They termed the decision of the government as a move to control the power to fix the tariff under the influence of the industrial lobby.
Leaders of various political parties, who are stakeholders in the transport business, also joined the protest, reports The Tribune (TT).