2024 Indian trucker protests

2024 Indian protest against new law on hit and run
Date	January 1, 2024 (2024-01-01)
Location	India
Caused by	New Hit and Run laws
Goals	Revocation of the new law
Methods	Gherao (encirclement), dharna (sit-in), raasta roko (traffic obstruction), demonstration, counterlegislation
Parties to the civil conflict
Government of India Ministry of Road Transport and Highways All India Transport Congress
Lead figures
Narendra Modi Nitin Gadkari

The 2023–2024 Indian truckers' protest is a protest against new law dealing with the hit-and-run cases in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It has a provision under Section 106 (2), that attracts punishment of up to 10 years for drivers and a fine of ₹7 lakh who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police or any official from the administration. Large-scale traffic congestion on roads caused by the protests caused inconvenience for citizens in many states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. In many locations, there were lengthy lines at gas stations as residents hurried to fill up their cars in anticipation of a possible gasoline shortage brought on by the protest.

Approximately 2,000 gas stations, primarily in western and northern India, have ran out of fuel as the truckers' associations' strike started its second day on Tuesday. In advance of the truckers' strike, state-owned oil companies topped off tanks at the majority of gas stations nationwide; nonetheless, excessive traffic caused several gas stations in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Punjab to run out of stock, according to industry authorities. On 2 January, Chandigarh imposed restrictions on the sale of petrol and diesel at fuel stations after a strike. According to Union estimates, there is a $12 million revenue loss daily due to the strike.

Background

See also: Motor Vehicles Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

The new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, which includes a hit-and-run statute, is being opposed by truck drivers. It is the criminal code that will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The new law imposes a ₹7 lakh fine and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for hit-and-run incidents. In the event of an accident, truckers, cab drivers, and other commercial vehicle operators wonder how they would afford such a hefty charge. The new regulation, according to Happy Sidhu, head of the All Punjab Truck Operators' Union, is a "black law" that will ruin Punjab's trucking industry.

Protest demands

The nation's largest truckers' association, AIMTC, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah last week, bringing to their attention the fact that drivers face the danger of violent mobs at accident scenes and that police often blame large vehicles for accidents without carrying out a thorough investigation. The head of the AIMTC's core committee, Bal Malkit Singh, stated, "We call upon the government to open channels for dialogue and work towards a solution that addresses concerns of all stakeholders," according to The Times of India. On January 1, the Indian Gig Workers Front (IGWF) sent a letter to the Collector asking for more information and supporting the act's continued categorization as a criminal subject to bail.

Protests and incidents

On 1 January, Hundreds of truck and commercial vehicle drivers blocked NH 2 near Dankuni toll plaza in West Bengal's Hooghly district for about two hours and protesting against the new law for hit-and-run. According to police, they started blocking the road in Chandithara around 10.30am by burning tires and parking cars in the middle of the road. Senior police officers from Chandithara and Dankuni police stations rushed to the spot and convinced the truck driver to lift the blockade.

On 1 January , Police said that a protest by truck drivers against the Centre's new law on hit-and-run cases in Rajasthan's Kekri district turned violent, with the mob burning a police vehicle and pelting stones at security personnel, injuring three people. "While the police were clearing the traffic jam on the Ajmer-Bhilwara Expressway, a mob pelted stones at the police, injuring three policemen. A vehicle of the Khekri town police station was also burnt down," said sanjay singh, a police officer.

On 2 January, At the Magdalla junction near Dumas in Hazira, a police control room mobile patrolling van found several truck drivers causing a chakka jam and stopping the bus. hundreds of truck drivers in Surat took to the roads and stopped a state-run bus that was traveling to Dumas at Maldala junction. Some angry drivers were allegedly involved in a scuffle.. The event resulted in the detention of twenty-three drivers. Constable Suresh Bijal attempted to maintain order but was hurt in the altercation that started when he attempted to disperse the demonstrators. An offence was reported to Dumas police by an injured police constable. Sureshbhai, the police policeman, is in normal condition. 23 drivers were detained under IPC sections 143, 147, 332, 323, 341, 504, 506, and 114.

On 4 January, In Assam Transporters have called for a two-day strike against new hit-and-run laws. The new penal laws on hit-and-run cases has led a combined forum of all transporters' unions to call for a 48-hour strike on 5–6 January, which is likely to restrict the movement of all commercial vehicles. Many public transportation associations, including taxis, buses, cars, autos, and fuel tankers, came together and declared they will participate in the protest.   long queues were witnessed at petrol pumps across the state with people lining up to fill the tanks of their vehicles amidst fears of fuel shortages.

In Karnataka, The Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners’ Association has declared that it will go on an indefinite strike starting on January 17 in opposition to the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita's hit-and-run law. The decision was made in spite of the Center's guarantee to truckers that the new legislation would only be put into effect following consultations with relevant parties. The Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners' Association president, C Naveen Reddy, told reporters, "The officials have not provided us with any written material, even though the union government called us for discussions on this unruly law." The union government made this decision alone; they did not consult us before making such a hasty decision."

Response and reactions

After a meeting between AIMTC and Union Home Minister Ajay Bhalla on 2 January, AIMTC announced that the new rules imposing 10 years' imprisonment and fine in hit-and-run cases will be stayed till the next Parliament. "No new laws regarding hit-and-run incidents will be enacted in the next parliamentary session," said AIMTC president Amritlal Madan. “The government wants to point out that these new laws and provisions have not yet come into force, The decision to impose new penalties will be “taken only after consultation with the AIMTC”” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

See also

Other articles of the topic India : Serafim Kalliadasis, Loknayak Jai Prakash Institute Of Technology, Josh (2000 film), Uttarakhand Kranti Dal
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• 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest

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