The truck drivers’ strike, which brought the country to standstill over the last two days, has ended, reports said. The strike was called by the truck drivers’ association after their issues were resolved.
Following a crucial meeting with the government over the widespread protests against the new hit-and-run law, the All India Motor Transport Association (AIMTC) on Tuesday said that “all issues are resolved”.
Earlier this evening, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla held a discussion with representatives from the All India Motor Transport Congress. “Govt wants to say that the new rule has not been implemented yet, we all want to say that before implementing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 106/2, we will have a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives, and then only we will take a decision,” Bhalla said.
Several transporters and auto-driver associations across India are on protest against the new law on hit and Run incidents.
Under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police or any official from the administration can face punishment of up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 7 lakh. Earlier, the punishment in such cases was two years in the IPC.
Private transport operators claim the law discourages drivers and may lead to unjust punishments. They claim that the drivers could be subject to mob violence when they attempt to transport the injured to hospitals and demand the repeal of the law.
