3 min readNew DelhiJan 4, 2024 07:40 AM IST
First published on: Jan 4, 2024 at 05:32 AM IST
A day after the truck drivers’ nationwide protest against a new penal provision in hit-and-run cases caused panic buying of fuel in several states, associations of taxi drivers took to the streets in the national capital Wednesday and staged protests despite assurances received from the Home Ministry Tuesday.
Hundreds of transporters reached the protest site at Jantar Mantar to express objections to the newly proposed section in the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita bill. As per the new clause, an individual could face a maximum penalty of 10 years if they flee the scene of an accident.
The protest was attended by multiple transport unions, including the Delhi Auto Taxi Transport Congress, All Drivers’ Kalyan, Safety Driver Sangathan from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, All Driver Kalyan Sangh, Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchal, and All India Auto Taxi Transport Sangathan.
“We will not get back to work until the government officially withdraws the law, we have families to support and some of us have kids aged 2-3 years old, neither do we have Rs 10 lakh to pay as penalties,” Parvez Alam, a commercial vehicle driver present at the protest, said.
“A black law has been made on the drivers… due to which an atmosphere of fear has been created among us…,” Sanjay Samrat, President of Delhi Transport Union, said.
Samrat accused both the Centre and state governments of adopting regressive policies against transporters and drivers. “They have increased the life of vehicles to 10 to 15 years, now diesel petrol, taxi buses, and private cars are being discontinued in the name of pollution. Due to this, drivers are becoming unemployed and transporters are on the verge of bankruptcy,” he said.
“We want the law to be withdrawn, the Home Ministry’s statement didn’t come with any official stamp. Till we get an official office order from the ministry, we are going to continue our steering chodo andolan,” Samrat added.
According to Samrat, transport associations wrote a letter to the Home Ministry on December 1, providing suggestions on how road accident casualties can be minimised. These include: If a driver meets with a road accident, there should be a call centre number so that the driver can immediately inform the government or administration about the accident; cameras should be installed at various places; a police van and ambulance should be made available at every 25 km distance on National Highways.
Despite the protest, no transportation difficulties were faced by the public.
At the protest in Jantar Mantar, Wednesday. Tashi Tobgyal 
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