Indian truckers strike

Nearly 4 million trucks are being kept off India\'s roads after their owners began an indefinite strike to protest against rising fuel bills.



The soaring global price of crude oil has forced the Indian government to cut subsidies and raise prices.



Truck operators said they have been hit hard by oil prices, which have risen by 40 percent since the beginning of the year.



The trucks carry food and other essential commodities in India. However, the strike is likely to push up their prices.



Analysts said this would add to the double digit inflation and slow down growth in the country.



A similar week-long strike in 2004, slowed down the annual growth in industrial output to 7.9 from 8.4 percent in the previous month, as the strike disrupted shipments.