The All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation, a platform of various trade unions of drivers and transport workers, has warned that it will intensify the protests if the Centre does not withdraw Sections 104(1) and (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) immediately. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in a statement on January 3, supported the agitations of truck drivers and workers against the BNS provisions on the punishment to drivers involved in accidents.
Many driver unions on Wednesday said they would continue to protest even after the All India Motor Transport Congress called off the agitation.
The federation’s general secretary, R. Lakshmaiah, said that if the government was adamant, then the drivers would be forced to intensify the struggle. “The drivers in fatal accidents will be punished up to 10 years of jail and fine up to ₹10 lakh. Accident is an accident. There will be no intention at all. In fact the drivers are very much worried about the accidents. Almost all the drivers will pray their God before starting the vehicle every day that there should be no accident,” Mr. Lakshmaiah said.
