NSA slapped on striking truck operators in Karnataka

The Karnataka government has imposed the National Security Act (NSA) on striking truck operators, after they rejected repeated calls by union transport minister T R Baalu to come to the negotiating table.

Baalu, meanwhile,called for an urgent meeting of all state transport commissioners on Monday to discuss the next course of action as the striking transporters remained adamant. However, a few major transport operators may join the talks, sources said.

The minister termed the demands for reduction in tyre and diesel prices as irrelevant and threatened to revoke permits of transporters if the strike continued.

"I am only requesting them to come forward. If you want to have any clarifications, we are here to clarify," he said. "Even now I am requesting them to come forward, we will discuss," he said.

Immediately after the state government imposed the NSA, striking transport operators were arrested and sent to jail.

Truck operators whose nationwide strike entered the sixth day today, refused to attend the meeting called by the union minister demanding release of their associates arrested under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

The government had ordered the arrest of five leaders of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex body of transporters, on charges of disrupting supply of essential commodities.

The truck operators insist that their leaders have to be released before any talks can start.

The announcement by petroleum minister Murli Deora of an imminent cut in petrol prices by Rs5 a litre and that of diesel by Rs3 a litre had also no effect on the mood of the striking transport operators.

The transporters are demanding reduction in prices of diesel by Rs10 a litre, and that of tyres by at least 35 per cent, apart from uniform value-added tax across the states.