PANJIM: Frustrated with the government invoking the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), members of the All Goa Truck Owners’ Union along with the Goa Workers’ Convention have pledged their support to and participation in the all India bandh on Wednesday.
Speaking for the drivers, union leader Ajeetsingh Rane on Tuesday said 4,000 truck drivers would remain off the road and would not allow workers to enter industrial estates around the State.
“Invoking ESMA is like stopping the voice of the people from being heard. We have therefore decided to position ourselves outside industrial estate and not allow people to enter. Those finishing their night shifts will be allowed to leave but those that come after that will not be allowed in,” Rane said.
As a means of creating awareness, Rane along with several truck drivers organized a motorbike rally from Azad Maidan to areas of Miramar, Tonca, 18 June Road, Patto, KTC and back. For the past couple of weeks the union has been organizing public awareness programmes on the issue at several bus stands around the State including 40 public meetings.
The union also announced that it would join hands with the neighboring States of Karnataka and Maharashtra and will seal the borders as well. Bookings for buses travelling to Goa from these States too have been stopped, he said.
