1. Commercial and public vehicles were halted in Assam due to a 48-hour transport strike.
2. Office-goers faced difficulties reaching workplaces as buses, taxis, and app cabs remained off the roads.
3. The strike was called to protest against the new law on hit-and-run cases, deemed unfavorable to drivers.
Guwahati, Jan 05: Commercial and public vehicles stopped in Assam as a 48-hour transport strike commenced, causing inconvenience to office-goers who struggled to reach their workplaces.
Buses, taxis, and app cabs adhered to the strike call, leaving the roads devoid of regular transportation services.
Ramen Das, the convenor of the Assam Motor Worker Associations’ Joint Platform, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s approach towards drivers.
According to Das, the government tends to blame drivers for incidents without considering their circumstances. He emphasized the need to improve road conditions rather than penalise drivers, labeling the new law on hit-and-run cases as anti-driver and against vehicle owners.
The grievance revolves around the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), slated to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
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Under the BNS, drivers causing serious road accidents due to negligence and fleeing without informing authorities can face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of ₹7 lakh.
This marks a significant increase from the two-year punishment specified in the British-era IPC.
Despite talks with state government officials failing to yield positive results, Das announced the strike from 5 am on Friday to 5 am on Sunday, demanding the withdrawal of the legislation.
The transporters’ platform has also called on private car owners to join the protest, emphasizing that the law applies to everyone, regardless of whether they are driving a commercial vehicle or a small car.
Amidst the strike, long queues formed at petrol pumps across the state as people rushed to fill their fuel tanks, fearing a potential supply shortage.
The transportation standstill underscores the deep concerns and opposition within the industry regarding the proposed legal changes impacting drivers and vehicle owners alike.
