00:00 A change in the colonial era criminal laws, significantly increasing jail terms for hit
00:07 and run incidents have sparked nationwide truckers protests.
00:11 The amended law mandates up to 10 years of imprisonment for drivers fleeing fatal accidents,
00:16 a stark contrast to the prior maximum of two years under the section 304A of the IPC.
00:22 This protest has spread from Jaipur in Rajasthan to even Howrah in Bengal, with private bus
00:26 operators striking in Haryana's Jind and auto operators joining the opposition against the
00:30 law.
00:31 The truckers argue that the new legislation might dissuade drivers from their responsibilities
00:35 and discourage newcomers from entering the profession.
00:38 Their contention revolves around the accidents often being unintentional and the drivers fearing
00:43 potential attack from the mobs if they attempt to aid the injured, urging for the repeal
00:47 of what they term as a black law.
00:49 The AIMTC, India's major truckers group, appealed to PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister
00:54 Amit Shah to reconsider the 10-year jail term for hit and run cases where drivers fail to
00:59 report.
01:00 They highlighted police bias against the truckers in accidents and threat to the mob violence,
01:03 urging for stakeholders' consultation before implementing such laws in the transport sector.
01:08 Moreover, concerns have arose about unjust punishments for cases where accidents occur
01:13 due to fog, potentially penalising drivers for circumstances beyond their control.
01:18 Recent protests included the blockage of National Highway 2 in West Bengal's Hooghly district
01:22 as truckers expressed their discontent.
01:24 The drivers' reluctance to report accidents stemmed from fears of facing local hostility
01:28 and the cumbersome legal procedures involving the police contributing to their instinct
01:32 to free the scene.
01:33 Now, this widespread demand among protesters is to revoke the law, citing concerns about
01:38 its potential impact on drivers' safety and their ability to manage unforeseen circumstances
01:43 without facing severe legal repercussions.
01:46 [Outro Music]
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