Truck operators have opposed releasing prices of petroleum products from administrative control of the government on Friday and have called for an emergency meeting to decide what should be done to put across their point.
All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) president GR Shamugappa told FE, ?Our members will meet on July 12 to decide on the future course of action to oppose the unjustified increase in petrol and diesel prices.? AIMTC said, ?The government should continue with controlled prices of diesel when it has decided to do so for kerosene. It could also lower taxes on the fuel.?
The truckers’ congress has been on a collission course with the government on various issues ranging from rationalisation of duties on fuel to allowing seamless transport between states. It went on strike in July 2008, followed by another one in January 2009. As some of their demand remained unfulfilled, the transporters threatened another strike in April 2010 but postponed the same after transport minister Kamal Nath intervened. An empowered group of minister, headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, on Friday decided to decontrol prices of petroleum products in a phased manner to bring them at par with international crude oil rate. As per the decision, an immediate increase of Rs 2 a litre in diesel price will be effective, while petrol will be expensive by Rs 3.5 per litre. Household cooking gas will be dearer by Rs 35 a cylinder.