AIMTC to resort to agitation if diesel supply not streamlined

Chennai, Aug 21 (UNI) Demanding the resignation of Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has threatened to launch a picketing agitation in front of the Indian Oil Headquarters here, if the diesel supply was not streamlined in the next one week.

Talking to newspersons here last evening, AIMTC South Zone spokesman R Sugumar and its South Zone Vice-President P Gopal Naidu disagreed with Mr Deora's claim that there was no shortage of diesel in Tamil Nadu.

Stoutly denying his claim, they said the truckers were badly hit by the diesel shortage. Several petrol bunks have displayed no stock board.

''If the diesel supply was not streamlined by August 27, we will picket the IOC headquarters in Chennai,'' they added.

Expressing regret that no efforts were made to increase the productivity of diesel despite increase in number of vehicle, they demanded the resignation of Mr Deora by owning moral responsibility for the diesel shortage in South India.

Mr Gopal Naidu also urged the State and Central Governments to conduct a thorough inquiry on the reasons for the sudden short supply of diesel.

He also sought the intervention of the Chief Ministers of Southern States and ensure uninterrupted supply of diesel.

Listing out some of their demands, which included strict ban on overloading of trucks, they said, if their demands were not met, the Association would meet at Bangalore during the first week of September to decide the date for an indefinite agitation.

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