AIZAWL, MAY 22 : The ‘Indefinite strike’ by Mizoram’s Commercial Vehicles Joint Action Committee (CVJAC) since five AM on May 18 was called off last night. The strike was called off after a meeting of the CVJAC leaders and state Home Minister R Lalzirliana at latter’s residence where it was agreed that the CVJAC leaders would hold talks with Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and Transport Minister John Rotluangliana after their return from Delhi.
The state government unconditionally released 41 CVJAC volunteers arrested yesterday and withdrew its decision to suspend over 30 permits of the agitating commercial vehicle owners.
The commercial vehicles body, which included cabs, maxi-cabs, city buses and public carriers (trucks), called for a strike making series of demands.
Their demands included payment of lifetime road tax by instalments, hike in city bus fare and permission for replacement of taxis. Public bore the brunt of the strike which caused acute shortage of essential commodities including oil and cooking gas and vegetables resulting in the prices of essential goods skyrocketing. With the strike being called off the state has been limping back to normal as supplies of essential commodities arrived in Mizoram from neighbouring states.