GUWAHATI, Jan 4: Public transport in Assam will come to a grinding halt for two days from tomorrow (Jan 5) with the All Assam Motor Transport Association, a conglomerate of transport bodies of the State, refusing to end its two-day strike and threatening to continue with its agitation in the coming days if the new legislation is not repealed.
From inter-city commercial vehicles — including UBER, OLA and other app-based cab services — to long-distance buses, all commercial vehicles will remain off the roads for two days, representatives of the All Assam Motor Transport Association said in Guwahati today.
Apart from commercial vehicles, petrol depots and LPG cylinder delivery agencies will also close down shutters during this period.
Train and flight services are also likely to be affected with Petroleum Workers’ Union, a constituent of the conglomerate, threatening to not supply fuel to trains and flights for 48 hours.
“There is a move to create a sense of confusion over our proposed two-day strike beginning 5 am tomorrow (Jan 5) with reports suggesting that our agitation has been suspended following an assurance from the Home Secretary to look into our demands. Let us clarify that our agitation will go and all commercial vehicles will remain off the roads on Jan 5-6,” an official of the All Assam Motor Transport Association said.
The two-day strike has been called to oppose the recently-passed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by the Centre under which provision have been made for stringent punishment prescribed in the ‘hit-and-run’ new criminal law codes.
According to the law, a driver who flees the scene after a hit-and-run accident will face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of ₹7 lakh.
Incidentally, while truckers in various other States have called off their strike after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla stated that the implementation of the new penal provision related to hit-and-run cases will only occur after consulting with the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the All Assam Motor Transport Association has decided to go along with its proposed agitation.
