Jamshedpur Truck Owners Threaten Strike Against Alleged Tax Harassment in West Bengal

The Jamshedpur Truck and Trailer Owners Association has made serious allegations against the West Bengal Transport Department for harassing truck owners and vehicle drivers through various types of additional taxes. The organization clearly stated that if their demands are not positively addressed soon, they will begin an indefinite strike from May 15 onwards. Addressing a press conference at Transport Nagar Parking on Sunday, the association's general secretary Manish Kumar Singh stated that during the tenure of the previous West Bengal government, people connected to the transport business were continuously harassed mentally and economically.

He alleged that in West Bengal, illegal recoveries were made in the name of "additional tax," "mechanical tax," and local toll tax at various places. Not only that, vehicles were also stopped on small diversions and alternative routes to collect separate taxes, which is not seen anywhere else in the entire country. Manish Singh said that truck and trailer owners already pay the All India Permit fee, which allows vehicles to operate across the country. Despite this, the additional tax collection in West Bengal is completely illegal and harmful to the transport business.

He stated that such recoveries are increasing the financial burden on vehicle owners and affecting the business. Association president Jasveer Singh said that the organization has high expectations from the newly formed West Bengal government. He demanded that the new BJP government completely eliminate the alleged goonda tax and other illegal collection arrangements that have been ongoing since the previous government's tenure. The organization's officials warned that if concrete decisions are not taken on their demands soon, truck and trailer owners from Jamshedpur and other states will also join this movement and go on an indefinite strike from May 15.