Jammu, Jan 13: The transporters on Thursday decided to defer their proposed state-wide strike from January 14  for 2- more days. They  however, said that if their demands were not met till January 15, they would go on indefinite strike from January 16.
“The decision has been taken in view of the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh and Lohri celebrations in the state,”
President of All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association, Anil Chopra told Greater Kashmir.
“We have been waiting to meet the Chief Minister. We are likely to meet him tomorrow or day after tomorrow. If there is no outcome of the meeting, we will be left with no alternative other than to go on indefinite strike from January 16,” Chopra added.
The transporters have been protesting against “100 percent increase in taxes on rising fuel prices, lack of sanitary and medical facilities at bus and taxi stands and government’s decision to book licensed drivers under harsher laws in case of road accidents.”
Officials of the Transport Department blamed Finance Department for the mess. “Taxes have been increased by the Finance Department and Transport Department has got nothing to do with it,” a senior transport official said.
About 42,000 commercial vehicles including buses, mini-buses and auto-rickshaws had remained off the roads on December 27 across the state to protest against the alleged high-handedness of the authorities.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST