Petrol and goods carriers to join lorry strike?

BANGALORE: The ongoing sand lorry strike is all set to get uglier. G R Shanmugappa, President, Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners’ and Agents Association (FKSLOAA), has warned the State Government that petrol and goods carriers would be involved in the strike, if there is no positive response to their demands from CM  D V Sadananda Gowda.“We will meet the Chief Minister on Wednesday and submit a memorandum. If he fails to provide immediate respite, a keydown strike will be initiated from that moment, including petrol and goods vehicles,” Shanmugappa said on Saturday.The strike has entered its 19th day and the members of FKSLOAA are ruing about how the State Government is indifferent to the suffering of the public. “There are clear sand policies in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The government is insensitive to the public’s suffering,” he said.He added that although the government makes a profit of Rs 250 crore by lorry owners, police officials tax the lorries for ‘illegal’ sand ferrying. “We have met the CM before with no concrete response. This time, however, we are determined to seek a response,” Shanmugappa said.