Assam: Buses, Ola-Uber taxis to go off roads for 2 days from tomorrow

The strike of commercial vehicles would start at 5 AM tomorrow and end at 5AM of Jan 7. Supply of LPG cylinders, petrol, diesel could also get affected

Commuters, office goers might face inconvenience starting tomorrow 5 AM to 5 AM of January 7 as commercial vehicles including buses and Ola and Uber taxis are expected to go off the roads of Assam following a cease work call given by the Assam Motor Workers Union against the stringent penalties to be imposed on drivers involved in hit-and-run cases under the recently implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a comprehensive criminal code that replaces the 163-year-old Indian Penal Code.

“We had already decided that there will cease work strike on January 5th and 6th. We stick to our decision. There are rumours being spread that the new law will not be implemented, the government has changed its mind owing to the protest. We request everyone not to get fooled by such statements. President of India has already given her consent to the new law, a gazette notification has been published on December 25. After that when the Home Secretary says that this will not be implement. Our protest will certainly happen. Within the next 48 hours, you will know that this (the new law) affects everyone, and not just the commercial sector,”an office bearer of AMWU, a body of transport operators, drivers and workers said.

Home secretary Ajay Bhalla had said Tuesday amid the protests by truckers against the law that they would be consulted before the new law is implemented. Bhalla said, “We had a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) representatives. The government wants to say that the new rule has not been implemented. Before implementing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, we will have a discussion with the AIMTC and then only we will take a decision.”

Supply of petrol and diesel and LPG cylinders is also expected to get affected due to the strike.

Why the protest?
As per the new provisions of hit-and-run under the recently enacted BNS, an individual causing a fatal crash and fleeing the scene without reporting to authorities could face a jail term of up to 10 years along with a fine of Rs 7 lakh.

Prior to the BNS, individuals accused in hit-and-run cases were tried under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code, facing penalties of up to two years in jail upon identification.
Fatalities due to road accidents:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways reported a disturbing 12% increase in road accidents in India in 2022, resulting in the tragic death of 19 individuals every hour. The report indicated a total of 4,61,312 road accidents, claiming 1,68,491 lives and causing injuries to 4,43,366 persons.

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