All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex body of transporters and goods booking agents, today claimed that over 600,000 trucks all over the country stayed off the roads in response to the nationwide strike call, even as the government took to the carrot and stick policy.

According to All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) spokesperson R Sugumar, more unions have joined the strike. However, Bihar truckers and All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners’ Association has already declared that it is not part of the strike. The latter has around 200,000 members across the country.

The truckers are demanding reduction in diesel price by Rs 10 per litre, slashing of tyre prices by 35 per cent and exemption from collecting 3.09 per cent service tax on gross freight from customers. AIMTC has also sought reduction in annual national permit fee by Rs 3,500 from Rs 5,000 and suspension of toll on highways for six months due to economic slowdown.

According to PTI, the government on Monday morning threatened to cancel the permits of truckers and asked the states to ensure supply of essential commodities to the public. “If the strike continues, law of the land will take its course. Permits of the trucks can be cancelled,” transport secretary Brahm Dutt said.

However, towards evening, the Finance Ministry came out with a list of eight services to be fully exempted from service tax. These include clearing and forwarding agent services, manpower recruitment or supply, cargo handling, storage and warehousing and business auxiliary services.

Reacting to the threat of permit cancellation, All India Motor Transport Congress President Charan Singh Lohara said, “So far the agitation has been peaceful and under our control. If they (government) start cancelling our permits, then we will not be responsible for any situation arising as a reaction to that.”

Till now, supply of essential commodities, including milk, medicines and vegetables, have not been disrupted.

Meanwhile, press release on behalf of the regional level coordinator for the Oil Industry, Southern Region,representing oil marketing companies, said LPG bulk transporters strike has been called off with immediate effect following an interim settlement with the petroleum industry officials. "The bulk LPG transporters have called off the strike with immediate effect following the amicable interim settlement reached during negotiations with Petroleum industry officials", the release said. In the wake of the discussions, most LPG trucks have resumed transporting bulk LPG from supply sources to the bottling plants, it said.

The oil ministry has called the truckers’ demand for reduction in diesel price as unreasonable.