Three-day protest initiated by truck drivers on January 1

Several highways across nation are currently blocked

Protests trigger concerns about potential fuel shortages

Several highways are currently blocked as a result of a three-day protest initiated by truck drivers on January 1. This nationwide demonstration involves the obstruction of highways and key roads, causing not only severe traffic congestion but also triggering concerns about potential fuel shortages, prompting citizens to hurriedly visit nearby petrol pumps.

The root cause of the protest lies in the dissatisfaction of truck drivers with the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a criminal code set to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The primary point of contention is the significant increase in penalties for road accident cases under the new law, which now carries a maximum imprisonment term of up to 10 years. In comparison, the Indian Penal Code had a maximum jail term of 2 years for accidentally causing a person’s death in a road accident.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita stipulates, “Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to a fine.” Furthermore, if the offender evades or fails to promptly report the incident, the imprisonment term can be extended up to ten years, along with a fine of Rs 7 lakh.

The protesting truck drivers argue that the new law is overly harsh and displays bias against larger vehicles.

The participants in this strike encompass various categories of drivers, including truckers, private bus drivers, and, in some instances, even government bus drivers. Reports on social media suggest that cab drivers have also joined the protest in certain states.