Bangalore: Striking a defiant posture after the Karnataka government invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) provisions against agitating truckers, the transport operators today vowed to continue their four-day-old strike till their demands were met.

"We have not resorted to violent methods of protest. Our's is a peaceful agitation. It is our right to press for our demands. Let the government put us behind bars. We will not withdraw the strike," Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners Association Secretary Narayanappa told PTI resenting the state cabinet's decision to invoke NSA.

The agitators had not forcibly stopped movement of goods and had only taken their vehicles off the road in support of their demands, he said.

Since this June, the Centre had been holding talks with truck operators, but so far no decision had emerged on their demands, including reduction in prices of diesel, Narayanappa pointed out while defending the strike.

As the stir entered fourth day and threatened to trigger shortage of commodities and rise in prices, the state government today decided to invoke the NSA as the ESMA laws had lapsed in the state and needed to be re-enacted.

A Bill to revive ESMA will be introduced in the next legislature session commencing from January 16, State's Home Minister V S Acharya told the press.

Meanwhile, the Centre had issued a set of guidelines to states to ensure movement of goods.

Several good transport vehicles went off the road since Sunday midnight as part of the nationwide call.

Source : PTI