Patna, Sept 03: Yet another round of talks between the transporters and state government remained deadlocked with the latter declining to climb down on its decision on revised road tax even as the indefinite strike called by the Bihar Motor Transport Federation (BMTF) entered its 34th day today. There was no breakthrough on the issue of the hike in road tax during the talks between the representatives of a section of the striking unions and the cabinet sub-committee members, including water resources minister, Jagdanand Singh and transport minister, Awadh Bihari Choudhury last night.
Choudhury told reporters that the talks would resume once the government secured the comparative road tax structure of various states, including Uttar Pradesh. He, however, ruled out promulgation of the ordinance for crack down on the striking transporters.
Negotiations with the bus owners are on and it is expected that the matter will be resolved soon, he added.

Choudhury hinted at resuming fresh talks with the transporters within a couple of days. The representatives of the Sagirul Haque-led faction of the BMTF, the umbrella organisation of transporters, stayed away from the meeting.
Voicing serious concern over the failure of talks, some operators said there was no scope for further talks unless the government withdrew the provisions in the Bihar finance act, 2001 relating to the hiked road tax rates.
Meanwhile, BMTF general secretary, Sagirul Haque, has blamed the state government for ignoring the demand for withdrawing the revised road tax.
Buses and trucks, remained off the roads. Bureau Report