Fearing a further 'precipitation' of situation due to the ongoing strike by truckers, Transport Minister TR Baalu on Saturday said his ministry did not want to 'act tough', while asking the transporters to come for negotiations.

"We don't want to act tough; we don't want to precipitate the issue further. Transporters are the stakeholders of the ministry. I'm only requesting to come forward (for talks)," Baalu told reporters when asked why the ministry was acting soft on the strikers unlike the tough stand taken by Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry against oil PSU officers who had to called off their stir.