Edited by Deepali Verma
Massive traffic jams and long queues at the petrol pumps were a common sight this New Years and the citizens, without sparing a moment, took to their social media to share the images and videos. In some cities, the ambulances were stuck in traffic for hours owing to a nationwide protest by truck drivers against the new hit-and-run law.
A three-day protest was launched by the drivers on Monday where they blocked the highways and several other key roads across the country. Not only have the protests led to traffic jams but also the fear that fuel may soon run out has prompted citizens to rush to their nearest petrol pump.
The truck drivers have taken the route of protest to voice dissent against the hit-and-run law in the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the criminal code that will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The new law has increased the penalty in road accident cases to up to 10 years. In IPC, accidentally killing a person in a road accident had a clause of maximum jail term of 2 years.
“Whoever causes the death of any person by rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with the imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine,” states the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
If the offender flees or fails to report the incident as it happened, the imprisonment term can extend up to ten years, along with a fine of ₹ 7 lakh.
The protesting truck drivers are of a view that the new law is draconian and biased against larger vehicles.
“As per the new law, the hit-and-run cases involve up to 10 years jail term and a fine of ₹ 7 lakh. We are mere drivers, how can we pay such a big fine amount?,” remarked a tanker driver named Syed Wajed protesting in Maharashtra.
The protesters got vocal as well regarding their concern about potential mob violence against drivers who choose to transport the injured to hospitals.
The protestors participating in the strike include truckers, private bus drivers and even government bus drivers in some cases. Some people on social media have claimed that cab drivers have also joined the protest in some states.
