Truck drivers’ protest against strict provisions in The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a recent enactment to replace Indian Penal code , led to severe disruption of fuel supply to petrol bunks.
Agitations by truck drivers in several states over certain provisions of the Sanhita have left the transport sector reeling. A major cause of concern is the proposal to increase the punishment for drivers who accidentally collide with another vehicle and leave without informing the police (hit-and-run).
As oil tankers did not operate for two days on Monday and Tuesday, there was a shortage of petrol and diesel supply in some states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh including NCR and Chandigarh.
Concerned about not getting fuel, the motorists rushed to the petrol stations, which not only got crowded but also caused massive traffic jams. Similar scenes were seen at many bunks in Major cities like Mumbai , New Delhi, Hyderabad,etc.
In Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, truck drivers staged mass protests and massive rallies. Due to this, a large number of trucks stopped everywhere. Transportation of petroleum products in Maharashtra has almost stopped. Hundreds of trucks were seen parked at HPCL and BPCL refineries. In some places in Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, hundreds of vehicles lined up at the petrol stations. The supply of LPG cylinders has also been disrupted in some areas. Violent incidents took place in Rajasthan. The concern of truck drivers is expected to affect daily journeys and transportation of essential goods.
Many banks have ‘no stock’ boards
In Telangana, Maharashtra, Madya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh petrol bunks are seen with no stock board from Tuesday evening.
Indian Private Transport Mahasangh General Secretary Alluri Ravi Shankar has demanded that the Center withdraw the Nyaya Sanhita Act. The agitation of the truck drivers will continue as usual and the drivers of lorries, autos, DCMs, mini goods and all other types of vehicles have been asked to participate in the strike from Wednesday.
What is The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita act
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) act, which replaces the existing Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police or any official from the administration (hit and run) shall be punished of up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 7 lakh or both.
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