M A I N   N E W S

Truckers invited for talks

New Delhi, April 15
Prices of fruits and vegetables soared in some states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the second day of the nationwide indefinite strike by truckers, demanding stable fuel prices and fewer levies.

While small lorries and tempos covered up for the striking trucks in most states, they couldn’t check the surge in prices of fruits, vegetables and other essential commodities in some places.

Maintaining that the stir had not affected supplies of essential commodities anywhere in the country, the government invited the striking All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) for talks.

AIMTC secretary-general J.M. Saksena said a solution might emerge in a day or two with the Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Mr B.C. Khanduri, returning to the Capital tomorrow.

In Andhra Pradesh, prices of potato, onion and tomato went up by as much as 50 per cent in some places, prompting the state government to take steps to ensure availability of petroleum and other essential commodities. PTI