Truckers Say Strike Called Off, Drivers Say They Haven't (Image: Pixabay)

After conducting discussion with the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has called off the nationwide truck drivers” protests on late Tuesday. However, AIMTC Chairman Kultaran Singh Atwal said that government had only made empty promises, and drivers are still on the strike.

After the meeting with the government, AIMTC Chairman stated that the government have not given any definite assurance. Even before, our petitions were not listened, and coming days will witness the shortage of fuels and drivers, he added.

Though AIMTC has concluded the strike, the transport bodies in other States would carry on with the strike. “It is a drivers’ movement, transporters have little to do with it. Since we are headquartered in Delhi, the Union government called us for a meeting. Let’s see how many drivers turn up for work on Wednesday,” The Hindu quotes as Kultaran Singh Atwal is saying.

The transporters across the country protested against a provision in the recently introduced, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new criminal act which increased the penalties for the hit-and-run incidents.

As per the new legal provision, driver who causes a serious accident and then runs the scene without informing the concerned officials or police can get stringent punishment – up to 10 years of imprisonment or a whopping Rs 7 Lakh fine. Previously, the hit and run provision included up to two years of imprisonment upon identification. The new law thus awards more rigorous punishment for the driver who hit and run an accident spot.

In the meeting, Union Home Ministry assured the representatives of the AIMTC that the government will take a decision on implementing section 106/2 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita only after discussion with the AIMTC.