NONGSTOIN/JOWAI, Feb 2: Hailing the call of the Joint Action Committee of Commercial Vehicle (JACCV) to go for an indefinite strike starting Wednesday, the West Jaintia Hills Taxi and Drivers’ Association has informed that its members will stop plying on Wednesday and Thursday, as a mark of protest against the hike in petrol price.
The organisation president, Humbert Passah, informed that the hike in petrol price and also the new order of the government will badly affect taxi owners and passengers.
“We are paying huge amount in taxes and permit and the petrol price is around Rs 91 per litre,” Humbert Passah said, while requesting passengers to bear during the aforementioned days.
Meanwhile, peeved at the soaring petrol and diesel prices in the state, the Nongstoin Regional Local Taxi Owners and Drivers Association have decided to launch an indefinite strike in West Khasi Hills scheduled for Wednesday.
Alfred Marthong, president of the organisation, while asserting that the meeting between the Joint Action Committee of All Meghalaya Commercial Vehicles and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong was ineffective, said that the association has no other option but to join the strike stating that the state government pays no heed to their demands.
He claimed the skyrocket in the rates of petroleum products has not only hit commercial vehicles but also affected the middle-class.
It alleged that the hike in prices is the result of the government levying high taxes.
Meanwhile, the association called upon drivers and owners of local and tourist taxis, maxi cabs, pick-up vans, trucks, buses, auto rickshaws and all other commercial vehicles to halt services until the government responds to their demand.