Mizoram commercial vehicle owners to go on strike from Oct 14

Guwahati: Mizoram commercial vehicle owners on Wednesday decided to go on an indefinite strike from October 14 in protest against the fuel price hike.

The owners have demanded that fuel prices - which have recently been hiked - be reduced in Mizoram.

The Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union stated that it has been repeatedly appealing to the Mizoram government to reduce the fuel prices but the government did not pay heed to their appeals.

The ZPM-led state government hiked the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs four per litre with effect from September 1, 2024.

A meeting was convened by the union on Monday wherein it was decided that all the commercial vehicles would cease operation from 6 am on October 14 as a mark of protest and to press the demand for reduction of petrol and diesel prices.

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The union leaders even met Chief Minister Lalduhoma on two occasions and Taxation Minister Vanlalthlana urging them to reduce prices of petrol and diesel.

Though CM Lalduhoma told the union that the issue would be taken up in the cabinet meeting, he later informed the union that the cabinet has decided to continue with the existing prices.

Along with the commercial vehicle owners, the fuel price hike has also affected the vegetable vendors and the general public at large.

A statement issued by the union also alleged that the state government has hiked the fuel prices as it plans to generate over Rs 90 crore additional revenue from fuel.

The union said petrol in Mizoram now cost Rs 99.24 per litre and diesel Rs 88.02 per litre which is the highest in the entire Northeast.