Life in Mizoram partially affected by 12-hr commercial vehicles' strike

Normal life was partly affected in Mizoram on Wednesday as commercial vehicles, including private buses and maxi-cabs, stayed off the roads because of their 12-hour strike, demanding a reduction in fuel prices. Ten organisations of vehicle owners and drivers called the strike from 6 am to 6 pm under the banner of the Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union (MCVU), demanding a reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel, which were hiked on September 1 in the state. Normal life was partly affected in state capital Aizawl and some other towns as people faced inconvenience with buses and maxi-cabs staying off the road. However, state-run buses operated as usual, an official said, adding that services of two-wheeler taxis were also normal. No untoward incident was reported during the strike, he said. The state government hiked VAT on petrol from 5.23 per cent to 10 per cent and on diesel from 16.36 per cent to 18 per cent with effect from September 1. Besides, the government also imposed a