NEW DELHI: Throwing its weight behind the agitating farmers, country’s largest trucker’s and transporters’ association, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) on Wednesday threatened to stop operation of all trucks owned by its members in northern India from December 8, if the government fails to address concerns of the far ming community.
AIMTC president Kultaran Singh Atwal said that 50-60% of their trucks are engaged in transportation of paddy, rice, wheat, vegetables and other farm produce. “If farmers won’t be there, how can we operate trucks? First, we will stop operating our trucks from December 8 in north India. If the government still does not address farmers’ concerns, we will stop our vehicles across the country. We appeal to the government to make a decision at the earliest,” Atwal said in a video message.
AIMTC chairman Bal Malkit Singh said they will escalate the protests across the country if the government fails to address farmers’ issues.
“At present, it is the season of apples, which are getting wasted. Apart from this, potatoes, onions and fruits and vegetables as well as other essential commodities like medicines and milk too are stuck up as their movement is disrupted, which is leading to shortages in Delhi and in other states,” AIMTC said. It said that the government must treat the farmers with dignity and allay their apprehensions on the laws.