“Nationwide Truckers Protest” Sparks Fuel Fears: Understanding the Impact of New Hit-and-Run Laws”
Truckers Protest- Truck drivers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and several other states are staging large protests due to the substantial penalties imposed under the new hit-and-run law.
This unrest has led to extended queues at petrol pumps, driven by fears of an impending fuel shortage.
According to the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which has replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, drivers responsible for a major road accident due to careless driving, and who flee without reporting to the police or any administrative official, can now be subject to a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of Rs 7 lakh.
On Monday, the All-India Motor Transport Congress urged the government to address concerns raised during a nationwide protest by drivers.
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“Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Creates Ripple Effect Across States, Leading to Fuel Queues and Transport Disruptions”
The AIMTC core committee chairperson, Malkit Singh, stated, “We encourage drivers to remain peaceful and abide by the law.
He clarified that the AIMTC, which serves as the overarching organization for truckers across the country, has not officially endorsed or called for the ongoing protest.
Our main objective is to engage in productive discussions with authorities to achieve a resolution that is equitable and fair.”
The All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) is a prominent organization that brings together local associations, unions, leading transport companies, and vehicle fleet operators in the bus and truck industry.
The country is divided into four zones, and each zone has a specific number of seats in the central executive body based on a predetermined formula.
Members from all over the country participate in a democratic process to elect the National Executive, which includes a President from one zone and Vice-Presidents from the other three zones.
The election of these office-bearers rotates every two years. The executive committee, responsible for decision-making, holds frequent meetings in different parts of the country to interact with local members and other trade unions.
Overall, the National Executive is the primary decision-making body of AIMTC.
IN MADHYA PRADESH
- On Monday, drivers of commercial vehicles, including trucks and tankers, ceased operations in certain areas of Madhya Pradesh.
- They also blocked roads in protest against a provision in the new penal law related to hit-and-run accidents involving motorists.
- As protests unfolded, residents hurried to petrol pumps in different cities, concerned that the agitation might disrupt the supply of fuel.
On Tuesday, a transporters’ association asserted that the strike initiated by truck drivers, protesting against a provision in the new penal law for hit-and-run accidents involving motorists, has disrupted the movement of nearly 5 lakh vehicles in Madhya Pradesh.
This led to the heavy rush in fuel pumps citing a shortage of petrol/diesel in case.
However, the administration in various MP districts and major cities like Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, and Jabalpur said there was no shortage of fuel at petrol pumps under their areas of jurisdiction.
A large number of people were seen at petrol pumps in Bhopal, Indore, and other cities on Tuesday morning to refuel their vehicle tanks amid the drivers’ agitation.
Vijay Kalra, former vice president (western region) of the All-India Motor Transport Congress, asserted, “Approximately five lakh small and large vehicles are currently unable to operate in Madhya Pradesh due to the ongoing strike by drivers against the new law.”
IN GUJARAT
- Truckers in Gujarat joined the protest against the strict imprisonment and fine regulations outlined in the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for hit-and-run cases.
- A video, showcasing a lengthy line of parked trucks on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara highway near Kanera village in Kheda, circulated widely on social media.
- Those sharing the video advised commuters to steer clear of the route due to a 10-kilometer traffic jam caused by the ongoing protests.
IN MAHARASTRA
- On Tuesday, long queues were observed at petrol pumps in Mumbai and Nagpur as individuals rushed to refuel their vehicles, apprehensive of a potential fuel shortage amid the ongoing protest by truck drivers.
- Chetan Modi, the President of the Petrol Dealers Association, Mumbai, informed PTI that the fuel supply to petrol pumps had been impacted since Monday due to the drivers’ agitation.
- However, the Maharashtra Food, Civil Supply, and Consumer Protection Department appealed to the police to guarantee a seamless and uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel, and LPG cylinders in the market.
The association also called for suitable measures to be taken under the Essential Commodities Act against drivers and transporters responsible for the disruption of the supply of petroleum products.
IN RAJASTHAN
- Truckers staged protests in certain areas of Rajasthan. The operation of roadway buses, which had been impacted, resumed following police intervention.
- The protests led to traffic congestion on various routes, including the Dholpur-Karauli route, Udaipur-Nathdwara route, Sawai Madhopur-Kota Lalsot route, Bhilwara-Ajmer route, and Anupgarh-Ganganagar.
IN WEST BENGAL
Hundreds of truck and commercial vehicle drivers protesting the new penal laws for hit-and-run cases blocked the national highway number 2 near Dankuni toll plaza in West Bengal’s Hooghly district on Sunday for around two hours, police said.
