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The government assured the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) that it was open to discussing the new hit-and-run provision in the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) before it was implemented.
The protest
Truckers and transporters’ bodies were protesting across several states against stricter punishments proposed in the new criminal law on hit-and-run cases.
The stir threatened to impact the supply of essentials and led to panic buying of fuel in several places.
About 2,000 petrol pumps, mostly in western and northern India, had run out of fuel stock.
The law
Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, set to replace the Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause serious road accidents due to negligent driving and run away without informing authorities face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of Rs 7 lakh.
The support
The Congress supported the truckers’ protest, saying the misuse of the legislation could lead to an “extortionist network” and “organised corruption”.
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of “penalising the poor” while stalling investment in the infrastructure sector.
The government in business
In New Delhi, the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla met with protesting truckers on Tuesday evening, leading to an amicable resolution of the stir.
The AIMTC demanded the withdrawal of new stringent provisions.
Some facts & figures
The government data shows that the number of road accidents in India went up by an alarming 12% to over 4.6 lakh in 2022, resulting in the death of 19 persons in 53 road accidents every hour.
‘Hit from back’ accounted for 19.5% of the total accidental deaths, followed by ‘hit and run’ (18.1%) and ‘head-on collision’ (15.7%).
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