The Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators Association has sent a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The letter requests the Chief Minister to handle the Puja committees who force truck drivers to give donations.
The letter read, “Durga Puja is over but the festive season is still on with Kali Puja and Jagadhatri Puja following. The truck owners are facing problems from various Puja committees who have been collecting money forcefully from them on national and state highways and also on city roads in the name of donation.”
It further stated, “They are blocking the roads in the process. If someone fails to pay as per their demand, the members of the Puja committees abuse them. In some cases, truck drivers have been beaten up and their vehicles damaged.”
President of The Federation of West Bengal Truck Operators Association, Mahinder Singh Gill explained, “This has become a fashion in West Bengal. Festival is an excuse, be it Eid, Durga Puja, Diwali or even Muharram, which is not even considered a celebration, people extort money from truck drivers. Sometime the truck drivers are forced to pay even Rs 2,000 to Rs. 3,000.”
The association explained why the truck drivers failed to approach a police station after these incidents. They said the truck drivers were mostly unaware of the nearest police station to place a complaint. The truck owners have further alleged that the committees employ minors to collect donations so the police don’t take action.
The letter concluded with, “We are requesting the administration to take necessary action to stop such forceful collection of Puja donation.”
One of the truck drivers questioned, “Festivals seem to have become seasonal income source for some miscreants. The auto rickshaw, bus and truck drivers are the worst affected. A truck passes through a road several times in a day and every time they are forced to pay money in the name of Puja. It is for the authorities to think and decide why should people pay for those whom they do not know?”
