The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) threatened on Wednesday to halt the movement of essential products into northern India from December 8 and subsequently to other parts of the country if the government does not allay farmers’ concerns. with respect to recently passed farm laws.
The chairman of India’s largest trucking and transport association, Kultaran Singh Atwal, said that they will convene a central committee meeting and decide to close operations as of December 8, starting with North India, which includes Delhi. , Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. “If the government does not analyze the demand from farmers, after December 8, we will do a chakka jam, we will stop vehicles,” Atwal said.
AIMTC is the main body of transporters, representing the interest of more than 95 lakh of truckers, around 50 lakh of buses, tour taxis, car operators and maxi taxi throughout the country.
“The Indian Road Transport Fraternity extends its unconditional support to the agitation of the farmers who are our” Ann Daata “food providers. They fight for their legitimate rights … All of North India looks affected and thousands of trucks carrying food, vegetables and other Perishable and non-perishable items from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K are affected and we still support them, as 65% of trucks are dedicated to transporting agricultural products, “said an official statement.
Thousands of farmers in Punjab, Haryana and western UP have continued to protest against agricultural laws over the past two months, despite repeated assurances from the Center and calls to come to the table for talks.
During the last week, farmers have gathered at the entry points of the national capital, demanding the repeal of the laws, fearing that the new ones will benefit the corporate. While Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal met with the farmers’ representative on Tuesday, but the meeting was not conclusive. The government has called for another round of discussions on December 3.
The body of the truckers also warned of the acute shortage of essential items in the coming days, if the conflict is not resolved.
“At present it is the season for apples, which are being wasted. Apart from that, potatoes, onions, and other fruits and vegetables, as well as other essential staples such as medicines, milk, etc., have also stagnated as their movement is disrupted, which is causing their shortages in Delhi and in other northern states. The situation will escalate in the coming days unless the government takes prudent and pragmatic measures to resolve the concern of farmers, who are fighting their only battle, “he said.
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