New Delhi: The indefinite strike by truck operators against levy of a new tax continued for the third day today (Aug 23, 2004) as talks between the Government and striking truckers failed to resolve the impasse.

Thousands of trucks stayed off the roads crippling the movement of goods across the country, the worst affected being western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Orissa. Prices of fruits and vegetables soared at a few places but there were no reports of shortages anywhere.

All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the apex body of truck operators, held two rounds of discussions with Revenue Secretary Vineeta Rai but a solution appeared illusive as the Government stuck to its stand of not withdrawing the 10 per cent service tax on freight booking agents.

AIMTC general secretary J M Saksena said, "We had second round of discussions (this evening) but there is no solution. The strike will continue."

At the two marathon meetings, the Government clarified that the tax would only apply to booking agents and not to truck owners or transporters. But the truckers were not convinced and said there was rarely a distinction between the two categories.

AIMTC president B N Dhumal, who did not attend the meeting with Rai, said, "Nothing short of an assurance that the tax will be withdrawn will do."

According to the control room set by in New Delhi to monitor the strike, inter-state movement of goods was affected in Gujarat, Bihar and Assam but States like Jammu and Kashmir, other North Eastern States, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Himachal Pradesh witnessed marginal impact of the strike.