Truck operators to hold protest in Patiala on July 6

ALL TRUCKS UNDER THE UNION WILL OBSERVE THE STRIKE ON THURSDAY WHILE TRANSPORTATION WILL REMAIN SHUT ON JULY 5, 6

JALANDHAR: Demanding immediate roll back of decision to disband truck unions in the state, all Punjab truck operators’ unions on Monday announced to hold a state-level protest in Patiala on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference, truck operators’ union president Happy Sandhu said, “The state government decided to scrap the truck unions in Punjab without taking any feedback from the truck operators.”

Sandhu said they had held several meetings with senior the political leaders including finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal but to no avail.

“This decision will impact small transporters and over 134 transporters with 93,000 trucks plying in the state will face huge loss after the disbanding of unions,” he added.

“We are now left with no other option but to protest. All trucks under the union will observe the strike on July 6 and transportation will remain shut on Wednesday and Thursday,” Sandhu said.

He said chief minister Amarinder Singh had promised of ‘Har Ghar Naukari’ but with this decision, now employment of over thousands of workers including truck drivers and helpers will be in danger.

“This decision will also upset the farmers as they also depend on trucks for the transportation of their crops,” he added. All India Motor Congress chairman Kultaran Singh Atwal also announced to extend their support to this strike. “Truck unions will hold protests at national level too if Punjab government fails to scrap its decision,” Atwal said. The state government has recently decided to disband the truck unions after the reports of several clashes leading to three deaths and injuries to many.