National Desk, 3rd Jan: The nationwide strike by truck drivers in India, causing widespread disruptions across states, has been called off following assurances from the government. The strike originated due to concerns over a new hit-and-run law proposed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which suggested harsh penalties for such incidents, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and substantial fines.
Truck drivers, including the All India Motor Transport Association (AIMTC), strongly opposed the new law, deeming it draconian and biased against larger vehicles. Their concerns extended to potential increases in corruption and extortion. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla met with AIMTC representatives, assuring them that the new laws had not been implemented and any future decisions would involve thorough consultation with the transport body.
This dialogue prompted AIMTC to end the protests, instructing truck drivers to resume operations. The strike had caused ‘panic buying’ of fuel, resulting in long queues at petrol pumps and shortages in some areas. The political landscape was affected, with opposition parties criticizing the government for legislative changes without proper stakeholder consultation.
The government’s decision to defer the implementation of the proposed hit-and-run law until further discussions with transport representatives is viewed as a temporary resolution to the unrest caused by the proposed changes to India’s traffic offence legal framework.
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