While social media is buzzing for the upcoming Pran Prathista of Raam Lalla in Ayodhya, the Modi government has come under the scanner due to the latest Truck Drivers Protest. For the past two to three days, Truck Drivers Protest intensified nationwide with truckers refusing to drive trucks due to the amendments in the Hit and Run Cases in the newly passed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Many states including Punjab, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, etc have started to face fuel and food crisis. Truck drivers are refusing to run trucks and load fuel, fruits, and vegetables to different parts of the states. Apart from truck drivers, taxi, tempo drivers have also started to join the protest to repeal the amendments done in the laws pertaining to Hat & Run cases. Now, the question arises what is the new Hit and Run laws and why truck drivers are totally against it? Below is everything you need to know-
Under the new Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, hit-and-run cases can attract a 10-year jail term and a fine of Rs 7 lakh. Before the provisions announced under the newly-minted Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita presented by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the parliament, the punishment for causing death by negligence was 2 years under section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Notably, the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita is yet to be enforced, however, this has panicked thousands and lakhs of drivers working day and night in the nation. While the Government of India formulated this keeping public safety and security in mind, truck drivers have asked the Centre that heavy vehicles are not always at fault.
Terming the new provisions for enhanced punishment as 'black law', truckers say they will not load fuel or carry fruits and vegetables until the amendment is withdrawn. Anan Sharma, president of the All J&K petrol tankers owners’ association was quoted saying that "The oil tanker drivers, for instance, say if they had Rs 7 lakh with them, they would have bought their own vehicles and not remain drivers."
Amid this, a video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also going viral. Netizens are sharing Amit Shah's statement in which the Union Home Minister clearly said in the parliament that if an accident occurs and the person takes the injured person to the hospital and if he or she dies then less punishment has been mentioned. However, if one hits someone on the road and leaves without attending or helping, then under that case 10 years jail time has been proposed including Rs 7 lakhs fine.