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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| India truckers strike over fuel | India truckers strike over fuel |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nearly four million trucks are being kept off India's roads after their owners began an indefinite strike to protest against rising fuel bills. | |
| The soaring global price of crude oil has forced the Indian government to cut subsidies and raise prices. | The soaring global price of crude oil has forced the Indian government to cut subsidies and raise prices. |
| Truck operators say they have been hit hard by oil prices which have risen by 40% since the beginning of the year. | Truck operators say they have been hit hard by oil prices which have risen by 40% since the beginning of the year. |
| Trucks carry food and other essential commodities in India. The strike is likely to push up their prices. | Trucks carry food and other essential commodities in India. The strike is likely to push up their prices. |
| Analysts say this will add to the double digit inflation and slow down growth in the country. | Analysts say this will add to the double digit inflation and slow down growth in the country. |
| A similar week-long strike in 2004 slowed down the annual growth in industrial output to 7.9% from 8.4% in the previous month as the strike disrupted shipments. | A similar week-long strike in 2004 slowed down the annual growth in industrial output to 7.9% from 8.4% in the previous month as the strike disrupted shipments. |
| 'No choice' | 'No choice' |
| Truck operators "have no choice but to stay off the roads", Charan Singh Lohara of the All India Motor Transport Congress told the BBC. | Truck operators "have no choice but to stay off the roads", Charan Singh Lohara of the All India Motor Transport Congress told the BBC. |
| "We are already running under huge losses. The cost of diesel is so high that we have nothing left to live on. | |
| "The government must reduce the multiple taxes to compensate for the increasing cost of fuel." | |
| Mr Lohara said the operators hoped to meet Finance Minister P Chidambaram to discuss their demands. | |
| The operators are also protesting against road tolls imposed by the government. | |
| In June, India raised fuel prices by 10%, the second such increase this year, because of the rising cost of oil globally. | In June, India raised fuel prices by 10%, the second such increase this year, because of the rising cost of oil globally. |
| India imports nearly 75% of its crude oil requirements and controls the price of domestic fuel products to help contain inflation and protect the poor. | India imports nearly 75% of its crude oil requirements and controls the price of domestic fuel products to help contain inflation and protect the poor. |
| Meanwhile, Transport Minister TR Baalu urged the lorry-drivers to call off the strike. | |
| He said the government was considering more tax relief for them. | |
| Have you been affected by the strike? Are you one of the truck operators taking part in the strike? Send your comments using the form below | Have you been affected by the strike? Are you one of the truck operators taking part in the strike? Send your comments using the form below |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |