Strikers demanded reductions in the price of diesel fuel, a replacement of the old national permit system with a single system, as well as different arrangement for the distribution of vehicle taxes. Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T R Baalu, held a meeting with officers from the AIMTC as well as state and territory transport ministers, assuring a 14 member committee would be formed to deal with the problems.
The committee is to be headed by road transport secretary Brahm Dutt, who will investigate the causes for the strike and submit a report within 8 weeks. Minister Baalu also allowed the immediate release of the President of the AIMTC, Charan Singh Lohara, along with 31 members who were arrested last week by the Delhi Police. The government also promised not to increase tolls within the next six months.
