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Government, transporters harden stand

The stalemate between the central government and the transporters continued on the fourth day of the indefinite strike today with both sides hardening their positions over the issue of rolling back the increase in the price of diesel.

The government said the transporters did not turn up for a fresh round of talks with transport ministry officials this evening. The transporters retorted that they were never invited for any talks today.

While the government categorically ruled out any possibility of rolling back the diesel price increase, the transporters stuck to their stand of not going to the negotiating table unless the government agrees to discuss the issue.

The transporters ruled out any possibility of a rapprochement, saying that "if it [the government] is rigid on the question of the diesel price increase, there is little point in continuing with the dialogue".

The meeting with Ashoke Joshi, Union road transport and highways secretary, was to be held at the transport ministry at 1800 IST this evening. But the truck operators did not turn up, ending any hope of early solution to the deadlock.

J M Saxena, secretary general of the All-India Motor Transport Congress, said Joshi had yesterday agreed to discuss the issue of rolling back the diesel price increase, totally or partially, with the finance ministry and inform the transporters about the outcome.

But the transport secretary did not discuss the issue with the finance ministry at all, Saxena said, adding that Joshi, yesterday and today, denied that anything like this was at all discussed during yesterday's round of discussions.

"His [Mr Joshi's] statement has turned back the clock to square one and vitiated the cordial atmosphere generated in yesterday's meeting," Saxena said.

On the other hand, Joshi contended that though the AIMTC had offered to call off the strike provided the government rolled back the prices partially, it did not specify what could be an acceptable partial withdrawal.

"We are open for talks and hopeful that things could be sorted out with deliberations," he told reporters this evening.

But the government refused to budge from its stand of not rolling back the price hike at any cost and claimed that supplies of essential commodities were being maintained. "We have told them [the transporters] that the issue of rolling back the diesel prices is not a negotiable item."

The strike, which began on October 21, was described by a spokesman of the transporters as "total" all over the country.

The government clarified that it could do little to roll back the prices of diesel, but it was open to a discussion on other issues agitating the truck operators.

The issues that the government is prepared to consider include overloading of trucks, levying of toll, permit fee hike and scrapping the Carriers Act.

UNI

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