The new hit-and-run laws have been put on hold after the union home secretary, Ajay Bhalla and representatives from the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) settled on this decision in a meeting held on Jan 2, a day after protests erupted across the country against the hit-and-run laws.

Although an official notification is yet to be made to repeal the law, reliable sources mentioned that the government has appealed to transport organisations across the country to call off the strike.

An assurance was given by the centre to cease the enactment of the new law at present, and the AIMTC is to be consulted now before implementing the law.

Following this assurance, AIMTC has appealed to the drivers to call off the strike.

Briefing the media, AIMTC president Bal Malkit Singh said, “Section 106(2) of the new law has a provision of 10 years of punishment and fine. We will not allow that to apply. We have no problem with the Indian Judicial code. Our issue is settled. The provision of the new law will not apply.”

The new law mentions that a driver causing the death of a person by rash and negligent driving and “escapes without reporting it to a police officer or a Magistrate soon after the incident, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description of a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”

Protests intensify across Gujarat

For the second day in a row, truck drivers continued their protest in Gujarat on Jan 2.

A truck driver’s strike on Surat’s Dumas road took a violent form, as police was brought in after the protestors were reported to have been pelting stones at a city bus. A rampage was caused in the area, and a police PCR van was also vandalised by them. Several accounts mentioned the protestors attacking the police personnel, some with sticks.

22 truck drivers were held in this incident, while complaints were registered against a group of 40 by the Dumas police.

Another large group of truck drivers had called a strike in the Ichhapore-Hazira GIDC near Surat, as a result of which around 10,000 trucks had seized transport operations.

Industries based in Hazira receive various goods, including chemicals and steel, among others, from other states. The strike has, however, caused trouble in the local market as the supply of goods has been drastically affected.

Truck drivers went on a strike in protest against the new law in Banaskantha’s Tharad town, which saw trucks parked on the roads. Eventually, the police settled the matter and allowed traffic to resume.

Drivers also blocked the Idar-Shamlaji highway in Aravalli’s Bhiloda.

Protests also erupted on the Godhra-Lunawada highway; drivers protested against the new accident law. Traffic was brought to a halt across the highway at the Hoselav circle in Panchmahal’s Shahera taluka.

Commodities affected by the protests

The supply of vegetables to cities like Ahmedabad and Surat from other states has been drastically affected by the truck drivers’ strike and protests.

Gujarat imports a large number of peas from Madhya Pradesh, potatoes from Punjab, ginger, chillies, and tomatoes from Maharashtra. Multiple strikes and blockages on important highways in the state have affected these imports.

A significant price is also observed, as 20 kg of peas cost ₹400 two days ago, which has tripled today to around ₹1,400. A similar phenomenon is observed with potatoes imported from Punjab.

At present, Gujarat has accommodated the state’s requirement for vegetables from Surat.

More than 500 quarry truck drivers went on a strike in Bhemal town of Banaskantha’s Danta taluka on Jan 2.

This strike could have implications for the construction industry.

Petrol deficit across the country

A shortage of petrol was observed in cities in northern India, like Chandigarh. People in Ahmedabad too flocked to the petrol pumps to fill up their vehicle tanks as rumours spread of pumps running out of fuel.

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