People dependent on public transportation were left in a state of despair on Friday. In order to register their protest against bringing diesel under Goods and Services Taxes (GST) purview and introduction of e-way bill by the Government of India, the transport association called an indefinite strike.
Heavy vehicles, including auto-rickshaw operators across the country are on indefinite strike, hitting the supply of essential commodities.
In a bid to support the strike, all the transport unions of Jharkhand had announced their involvement in this nationwide strike on July 19, bringing the regular urban transport service to a complete halt. According to the members of Transport Associations, the strike is being organized on the call of All India Motor Transport Congress to take up various issues.
The nationwide strike if continued for long will have a large scale impact on Jharkhand. With list of demands which includes – bringing diesel under the purview of GST, corruption on the toll barrier, third party insurance premiums and reductions in commission of agents, elimination of TDS in transport business, income tax amendment, national permits for buses and tourism vehicles including end of congestion charge on 19 ports of the country, the transporters have announced the strike.
The members of different transportation associations opined that due to constant rise of diesel prices and now with the introduction of GST and toll tax, there is an immense burden on the transporters. Also, the members stated that the regular alteration in the rules and regulations is a troublesome for those associated with the transportation business, hence, they are resisting against the government’s move.
Meanwhile, in East Singhbhum heavy vehicles remained off the road in support of strike call given by All India Transport Congress (AITC) in favour of it’s the six-point charter of demand. About 2,000 trucks and trailers that used to ply on the main arteries of this industrial township remained off the road due to the strike which was also supported by Jamshedpur Transport Welfare Association (JTWA).
Though the strike became effective from the midnight of Thursday, a large number of trucks and trailers continued to ply on the road. A group of functionaries of the JTWA swung into action and forced the truck and trailer drivers to stop plying their vehicles near Transport Nagar on Dimna Road in Mango, the entry point of heavy vehicles into the city.
More than 10 transport associations active in Jharkhand have joined hands to support the indefinite strike. Jharkhand State Bus Owners Association, Ranchi Goods Transporter Association, Jharkhand State Diesel Auto Driver Federation’s State President, Cargo Transport Association, Jharkhand Regional Diesel Cargo Tempo Owners Association, Jharkhand Diesel Driver Association and others have come together in support of indefinite strike for fulfillment of all their demands.