Traders affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangankalin Peravai will down shutters across the State on April 5 in solidarity with the farmers seeking constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.
The traders’ body had earlier planned to shut shops and register its protest during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the State on April 11.
In a press briefing here on Wednesday, Peravai’s president T.Vellaiyan said: “We are getting information that the Prime Minister’s visit to the city may get cancelled. We have rescheduled the shutdown along with the State-wide strike announced by opposition parties led by the DMK to show our support for the cause.”
The Peravai has also called upon retail traders across the State to down shutters.
Trucks to be off roads
Around 5 lakh trucks across the State will also stay off the roads. The decision was taken at a meeting organised by Southzone Motor Transporters’ Welfare Association on Wednesday. According to members of the association, lorries transporting various goods, including sand, will not ply on Thursday.
April 7 stir withdrawn
However, the association has withdrawn its earlier plans to go on strike on April 7 against various issues, including fuel price hike and escalating toll rates. S. Yuvaraj, an association member, said a decision on the strike coinciding with All India Motor Transport Congress would be taken at a meeting to be held at Puducherry.
Toll rates
Association’s general secretary G.R. Shanmugappa said the toll rates have been increased exorbitantly and the toll policy lacks transparency. Moreover, the association had suggested that members would pay an annual toll in advance.
“We also demand that diesel must be brought under the GST regime to bring uniformity in pricing. The fuel price must be revised on a quarterly basis,” he said.
The association is a constituent member of All India Motor Transport Congress and more than 500 associations across the southern states are under the SIMTA.
