Rising fuel prices rile all-India truckers body

The fuel prices in the country has been touching new highs. On January 18, the price of petrol touched an all-time high at Rs 91.56 a litre, diesel at Rs 81.87 a litre. The rising fuel prices have riled all-India truckers body.

In an official statement released by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), has said the high fuel prices are a “historical blunder in the making by the government.” The apex body represents around 7.5 million truckers and transporters, 4 million bus operators, 1.6 lakh goods transport companies and 2,500 Taluka District and State level federations and Transport associations.

Bal Malkit Singh, chairman-core committee and former president, All India Motor Transport Congress said, “The government is taking undue advantage of the vulnerability of the consumers. They bluntly refuse to lower the fuel prices when international crude oil prices plummeted. The central government increased excise duty and state government’s their VAT making fuel as highly taxed commodity in the world. Now when the crude oil prices are increasing the government cry hoarse about de-control pricing regime making a utter fool of the citizens of the country.”

Malkit Singh added that the situation is fast getting out of control, “The high cost of diesel prices are taking toll of small operators and if this is not checked a strong action seems imminent.”

AIMTC has convened an emergency meeting to decide on the further course of action and take on the crisis head-on with the government.

He further said the situation is especially bad for small transporters, wherein the high fuel prices, along with low capacity utilisation has further added to the woes of the trucking community. Meanwhile in Mumbai, the price of petrol stands at Rs 91.80 a litre, while diesel cost Rs 82.13.