Indian truckers strike over fuel prices and high taxes

MUMBAI – Millions of Indian truckers went on strike yesterday parking their vehicles to protest high taxes and rising fuel bills, union leaders said, but talks to discuss ways to end the stoppage were planned.

Trucks provide the transport lifeline of India’s economy and a lengthy strike would threaten not only goods supplies but also industrial output. Diesel sales could drop sharply.”About 4,5 million trucks are off the road as part of our indefinite strike.Transportation of all goods, including essential items has been stopped,” said SK Sharma, an adviser to the All India Motor Transport Congress.”We have to wait and watch for the government’s response.”Any prolonged action will add to the woes of India’s coalition government, which is already battling inflation soaring at a 13-year high.Also, its communist allies are threatening to withdraw support over a nuclear deal with the United States, raising the prospect of a snap election.The Indian government, which heavily subsidises fuel prices to protect the poor, raised the retail price of petrol and diesel by about 10 percent this month to partly pass on the soaring cost of crude oil.Nampa-ReutersDiesel sales could drop sharply.”About 4,5 million trucks are off the road as part of our indefinite strike.Transportation of all goods, including essential items has been stopped,” said SK Sharma, an adviser to the All India Motor Transport Congress.”We have to wait and watch for the government’s response.”Any prolonged action will add to the woes of India’s coalition government, which is already battling inflation soaring at a 13-year high.Also, its communist allies are threatening to withdraw support over a nuclear deal with the United States, raising the prospect of a snap election.The Indian government, which heavily subsidises fuel prices to protect the poor, raised the retail price of petrol and diesel by about 10 percent this month to partly pass on the soaring cost of crude oil.Nampa-Reuters