Hit-And-Run Law: Truck Drivers In Karnataka On Indefinite Strike From January 17

Karnataka: On January 17, truck drivers in Karnataka will be going on a strike to oppose the new hit-and-run law. Taxi and bus operators in the state will also take part in the strike that will go on indefinitely.

The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association announced the indefinite strike on Saturday, January 6, beginning January 17. The truck drivers’ strike aims to protest against the law for hit-and-run cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the new criminal law, which has not been implemented yet.

The truck drivers will be protesting against the Rs.7 lakh penalty and 10-year jail term in hit-and-run cases.

C Naveen Reddy, President of the association in a press meet said, “Though the union government called us for discussions on this unruly law, the officials have not given anything in writing. This is a unilateral decision by the union government, and they did not consult us before arriving at such a hasty decision.”

“We already informed all the truck drivers in the state, and we will be going on a strike. All heavy vehicles will go off-road from January 17,” he added.

The All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) said that the provisions of the hit-and-run case law could lead to harassment of the drivers.

On January 2, the AIMTC ended the protests by truck drivers after a meeting with Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. The government assured the AIMTC members that the hit-and-run law will be brought into force only after discussing it with AIMTC.

However, the truck drivers in Karnataka are under the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association, and will initiate the nationwide strike on January 17.