Truck Driver Strike Live: Controversy has arisen regarding the Indian Judicial Code recently passed by the government. The new law provides for a fine of Rs 7 lakh and 10 years’ imprisonment in respect of ‘hit-and-run’ road accident cases.
There is a lot of resentment among truck drivers regarding this. Truck drivers have demonstrated tremendously in different states of the country. Due to the protests in Maharashtra, there was fear of fuel shortage at some places.
All India Motor Transport Congress has said that because of these provisions, truck drivers may have to face undue harassment. Therefore these should be withdrawn. These provisions have not been implemented yet. The most violent protests by truck drivers are being seen in Maharashtra.
Akil Abbas, Secretary of Petroleum Dealers Association of Maharashtra, says that work at some petrol pumps in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has already stopped. At the same time, more than 70% of the estimated 1.20 lakh trucks, tempos and containers remained off the roads in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) on Monday. All India Motor Transport Congress has said that only 35 percent of the vehicles are supplying essential commodities like petrol and LPG, so that the needs of the people can be met.
Due to the strike lasting for three days, the supply of fuel to fruits and vegetables may be disrupted. There has been a loss of Rs 150 crore in MMR in one day’s protest. ‘Rasta Roko’ demonstrations have also been held in Solapur, Kolhapur, Nagpur and Gondia districts. At the same time, the situation in Navi Mumbai and other places seems to be under control.
Outside MMR, in the rest of the country, the first day’s strike was partially affected in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal, Rajasthan and Bihar. Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Surat in Gujarat and Ambala in Haryana were some other cities where drivers have protested.
