THE All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation (AIRTWF), in a statement issued on January 2, has demanded that the Government of India immediately withdraw Section 104(1) & (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sannihita 2023. The federation expresses concern over the proposed penalties of up to 10 years in jail and fines up to Rs 10 lakhs for drivers involved in fatal accidents. AIRTWF emphasizes that accidents are unintentional and underscores the drivers' genuine anxiety about such incidents.

The federation underlines that a significant portion of accidents stems from issues like defective road constructions, poor road conditions, lack of road segregation, adverse weather conditions, etc. AIRTWF urges the government to consider the real issues contributing to accidents and emphasizes that penalising drivers alone will not yield positive outcomes.

AIRTWF calls on all concerned to organise nationwide protest demonstrations on January 3, 2024, and warns of a united and serious struggle if the government does not revoke these draconian provisions. The federation calls on all its affiliated unions, state units, and stakeholders in the road transport sector to unite against the oppressive provisions. Should the government remain unyielding, AIRTWF warns of an escalated struggle at the national level within the road transport sector, particularly among drivers. The federation extends its support to the drivers engaged in this ongoing struggle and appeals to all unions in the road transport sector and other stakeholders to unite against the draconian provisions in the Act.