Nagpur: The utter confusion prevails over truck drivers’ strike in Nagpur. Truck drivers had ended their strike for the time being but many transport associations and drivers’ unions have called for resuming the strike against the legislation on hit-and-run cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The truck drivers have resumed their strike in Nagpur. In this regard, Nagpur Truckers’ Unity President Kuku Marwah called a meeting. In the meeting, a large number of transporters were present and discussed the harsh penalties in the new ‘Hit and Run’ law under the BNS, on Wednesday.
Marwah said that the Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah should speak in front of the media and give assurance to the truck drivers that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita law had not been implemented yet and would not be implemented in the future. In case any law is to be implemented with regard to transport sector, a meeting should be called in consultation with representatives of All India Transport Congress (AITC) and drivers’ associations of each State in the country. “Truck drivers want the Government’s assurance in writing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amit Gupta, President of Vidarbha Petroleum Dealers Association (VPDA) said that the truck drivers are confused over the situation as there is no call for strike from any national level truck drivers unions or transport associations. Because of this situation about 50 percent of petrol and diesel tanker drivers did not report for work at the depots on Wednesday.
“So, we held consultation with tanker drivers and told them that in case of accident, Section 304/A under indian Penal Code is being implemented and not 106/2 under the ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’ law. Therefore, most of the tanker drivers have given their consent to resume work on January 11. On Wednesday, it was witnessed that trucks, tempos, travels and other commercial vehicles were seen plying on the roads in the city. “Some associations are creating confusion among the truck drivers,” Gupta added.
However, Marwah said that a large number of truck drivers and transport associations were not satisfied with the assurance given in the meeting between the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and All India Motor Transport Association (AIMTC) in New Delhi on January 2 which ended the nation-wide truck drivers’ protests against the new hit-and-run law. Although the Government has given assurance, truck drivers are afraid and not returning to work. Truck drivers are demanding roll back of the ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’ law in which drivers can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined Rs 7 lakh for fleeing the accident spot and not reporting it. Truck drivers feel that the penalties are too harsh and the law itself lacks clarity. Truck owners have requested the drivers to resume their duties but truck drivers are refusing.
Marwah has requested the Central Government to roll back the hit and run rule immediately. Gullu Dhillon, Nishant Singh Gotra, Gurudayal Singh Padda, Sukhchain Singh, Onkar Singh, Tony Jaggi, Amrutpal Singh, Gurumeet Singh, Pal Makhan and other transporters were present in the meeting.
