Jharkhand truckers to surrender truck and key to govt

Ranchi, June 23 (UNI) Threatening to surrender their vehicles to the Chief Minister and Transport Minister by July three, the Jharkhand Truck Owner's Association today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to roll back hike in petrol and diesel prices to contain spiralling cost of essentials commodities.

The association staged a dharna in front of Chotnagpur Commissioner's office here, protesting the hike. They said in the past two years the cost of diesel had been increased by nearly Rs ten.

In contrast, in the past six years, the truck fare had been reduced by 13 per cent, they claimed.

In a memorandum to Dr Singh, the association said the Centre had been increasing prices of petrol, citing rising prices in the global market but at the same time it had failed to guage its adverse impact on the common people.

They said if the government did not roll back the price, they would be left with no option but to hand over their vehicles.

UNI PRS SJC YA KN1814