Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: All Jammu and Kashmir Oil Tanker Owners Association and Oil Tanker Drivers & Cleaners Union today called off their strike after the Government accepted their two demands and resumed supplies for Jammu region this afternoon.
The fuel supplies to entire Kashmir valley and Leh- Ladakh continued to remain suspended on the third consecutive day as the Government has given two days time for making effective security arrangements for the drivers and the oil tankers in Kashmir.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti invited the representatives of the tanker operators’ union and during meeting at her official residence at Wazarat Road, Jammu, the Chief Minister asked the operators to call off strike in the entire State and resume supplies to Kashmir and Ladakh. The Chief Minister also assured them better security cover and maintained that she had directed the DGP to provide affective security cover to the convoy of tankers ferrying fuel supplies to Kashmir and Ladakh.
K D Wani, president Oil Tankers Drivers & Cleaners Union said that he along with Surinder Singh general secretary and other office bearers besides President Jammu Chamber Rakesh Gupta and other members went to the residence of CM near Residency Road here this evening around 6 pm and meeting was held for about half an hour. “We projected our issues with regard to the attacks on tanker drivers and cleaners and damage being caused to the vehicles. We categorically told that drivers will not go to Kashmir until Government makes effective security arrangements and gives written assurance.”
Wani said that the Chief Minister in presence of Principal Secretary , Naveen Choudhary gave full assurance of affective security cover and said that two of their demands of compensation for damaged vehicles and relief for seriously injured drivers have been accepted. She said that within two days, the effective security arrangement would be in place. Wani said that on her assurance, we also assured to resume supplies after they will be satisfied with the security cover.
He further disclosed that one round of meeting was held in the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Pawan Kotwal at Rail Head Complex in presence of DC Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, DIG Ashkoor Wani, ADC Jammu Arun Manhas, members from Oil Tankers Owners Association S S Khorana, Sanjay Mahajan, S Manmohan Singh, Raman Gupta and others in the morning at around 11 am. They also held discussions with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Basheer Khan through video conferencing on security cover issue. “We have one point programme, give us in written regarding full and affective security cover in Valley, otherwise, drivers would not ferry fuel supplies to Kashmir and Ladakh. Basheer Khan has also assured us for the better security and special helpline numbers but we have to wait for the Government response as per our proposal,” Wani added.
The Union president regretted that at Kangan where over 70 vehicles were damaged the day before yesterday, the Government had provided three vehicles of CRPF with at least 20-25 security men, but they fled the scene when the mob started attacking tankers during mid night. He said they do not need such security arrangement like at Kangan, the Government should explain to them the security arrangements and plan. All SHOs should be involved and Army protection in convoy is needed for the protection as the local police do not cooperate at all. In the absence of break down in mobile phone network, the drivers are unable to contact the owners or the transport companies. There is no response on the helpline numbers given to the drivers /operators in Kashmir.
President of the All J&K Oil Tanker Owners Association Anan Sharma said, ” The Government has agreed to accept our two demands of providing compensation to the injured truck drivers and for the damaged tankers. Therefore, we have decided to call off our indefinite strike from today in Jammu region.”
He said the services have been resumed for Jammu region only and the decision to restore services for Kashmir and Ladakh would be taken only after the Government assures us to provide full security to our drivers and vehicles.
“Large number of our vehicles were damaged and drivers and cleaners were injured by stone pelting by mob in various parts of the Kashmir valley when they were transporting fuel. Though we faced no problems in Ladakh, the vehicles going to Ladakh have to travel from Kashmir valley,” Mr Sharma added.
After two rounds of meetings with the Government representatives yesterday, the talks remained inconclusive.
“Yesterday, the Government agreed to provide compensation to the injured drivers and the damaged trucks but there was nothing in writing, today they have agreed to give it in writing so we have called off the strike,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said, the tankers’ strike has been called off in Jammu and the petrol pumps will start getting supply in next two-three hours.
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