-- Samir Umarye BICHOLIM: The Traders from Bicholim market have decided not to support the bandh called by the Truck Owners Association on
Friday claiming it illegal, for they were not intimated about the same. According to the available information the Bicholim Market Union today held a special meeting to discuss the issue of bandh on Friday called by the Truck Owners Association in support of their demand to start mining in Bicholim. The traders expressed their surprise over the fact that the Truckers have called for a bandh which was a sudden decision. "It was a hurriedly taken decision and is not binding upon us. We were not intimated about the bandh by the truckers before they announced about it and so the bandh is totally illegal" the president of the Market Union, Devidas Karekar told "we came to know about the bandh through papers and it is not binding upon us." "All the shops would be open on Friday and we would ask for police protection so as to avoid any untoward incident" Karekar said "eventhough we are not supporting the bandh our sympathy is always there with the truck owners." It may be recalled that the Bicholim Truck Owners Association on Tuesday had announced for Bicholim bandh in support of mining and had also submitted a memorandum to the Bicholim MLA, Naresh Sawal in this regard. The MLA inturn had expressed his support to the bandh.
