Chhattisgarh matador owners join truckers' strike

Chhattisgarh matador owners on Saturday, joined the nationwide truckers' strike even as the state government is considering action under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against striking truckers.

"We were ready to join the strike from day one but could not do so as we were not able to hold a meeting of all major operators. On Friday, we held a meeting and decided to join the strike," Chhattisgarh Matador Owners' Association president Gurjit Singh Sandhu said.

With the CMOA's decision, wheels of all small vehicles running in the state have come to a standstill and brought haulage of goods and vegetables to a complete halt.

Raipur Collector Subodh Kumar Singh said consumer supplies may be further affected due to matador owners joining the strike which entered its sixth day on Saturday.

State Home and Transport principal secretary NK Aswal had said on Friday, that the government was considering invoking ESMA looking at the gravity of the situation.

Notices had been issued to truckers about their road permits being cancelled if they continued to strike, Aswal had said.