North America Edition
Indian truckers have threatened to strike indefinitely -from December 8 onwards- in solidarity with farmers protesting against pro-market agricultural laws. The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the country’s largest 
truckers’ body, has stated it will initially stop movement of essential goods in north India on 8 December before extending it to other parts of the country if the government does not address the farmers’ concerns.
The strike call by the transporters is likely to test the resolve of the Modi administration, which has ruled out reversing the farm laws although it has met farmers to allay their concerns. Thousands of angry farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have camped in Delhi and its suburbs demanding that the government repeal the laws that they claim will only benefit large corporates.
Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar and food and public distribution minister Piyush Goyal met farmer representatives on Tuesday, but the meeting remained inconclusive. The government has called for another round of discussions on Thursday.
Source: livemint.com
