Strikes cripple normal life...

The nation was hit by a couple of potentially crippling strikes - one by transporters and another by oil sector officers. The PSU oil officers' agitation for higher pay lasted three days, and hit fuel supply to both individual consumers as well as industries. Petrol stations across the nation witnessed long queues with pumps reporting shortage of fuels. This led to several thousand vehicles staying off road, causing inconvenience to daily commuters. Air traffic was also affected due to shortage of jet fuel. The Government called the strike illegal and invoked laws that forbid obstruction of supply of essential commodities. The home minister said the Government would take firm action against oil company officials to end the strike while an oil ministry official said the army may be asked to help restore fuel supplies. The strike entered its third day on Friday after talks failed late on Thursday between the Government and officials of state-run firms that dominate the county's energy sector and control almost the entire supply of transport fuels, natural gas and domestic crude. HPCL did not join the strike but its operations were affected by the truckers strike. By Friday evening, the striking workers from other oil PSUs were back to work.

Separately, the truckers' strike that began on Monday added to the Government's woes, with supply of essential commodities hit partially. Some states invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to maintain availability of essential commodities and prevent prices from escalating. Warning the striking truck operators of more arrests under ESMA, the Government said it plans to run 15-20 lakh vehicles in the next few days for uninterrupted supply of essential commodities. The vehicles would be arranged by impounding trucks and allowing other private vehicles for transportation of commodities without permit, said Transport Secretary Brahm Dutt. He also said that a few truckers have been arrested under ESMA and more arrests would follow shortly. Describing the stand of the truckers as irresponsible, Dutt said he is in touch with the transporters but they are holding on to their demands. The truck operators are asking for a Rs10 reduction in diesel prices, waiving the toll tax, interest on truck finance for six months, and free movement of trucks across the country without state permit