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Jammu, Jun 8 (UNI) Demanding a hike in fare prices, the Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association has announced an agitation against the state government and they would go ''off road'' from tomorrow.

''The decision was taken at a meeting by the members of Transport Welfare Association at Srinagar and they decided to launch an indefinite strike from June 9,'' T S Wazir, chairman, All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association told UNI here today.

Mr Wazir said that no commercial vehicle would ply from Lakhapur to Uri till demands are met, he said, adding. ''The transporters are not interested in following the path of agitation and confrontation to avoid inconvenience caused to the masses but the government's rigid attitude has forced us to go for an indefinite strike.'' ''The fares have not been revised since 2005 while the petroleum products and spare parts prices have increased many fold during this period,'' the Chairman said.

''The transporters are already under heavy burden due to implementation of VAT, hike in insurance by 180 per cent and increase in service tax by 10.20 per cent,'' Mr Wazir said and added if the government accepts their demands by today evening, the Association would withdraw tomorrow's indefinite agitation.

However, Mr Wazir also demanded that the state government should frame a transport policy for the welfare of the transporters. Over 72,000 commercial vehicles would go off the roads from tomorrow in view of the strike call demanding immediate hike in the fare prices.

UNI VBH AM NS1432