Karnataka Lorry Drivers To Go On Indefinite Strike From Jan 17

After Maharashtra and a few other states, Karnataka will witness indefinite strike from the lorry and truck drivers.

The Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owner's Association has announced that it will go on an indefinite strike from January 17, demanding that certain loopholes in the new Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) be rectified.

C Naveen Reddy, the president of the association, announced this decision during a press conference and said that members took the decision on strike at a meeting.

"A driver's driving license is confiscated when an accident occurs in a foreign state. Local security will be asked to provide bail in connection with the incident. This will cause problems for the lorry drivers. Therefore, he demanded that this element in the proposed act should be removed immediately," he said.

The nationwide concern among lorry and truck drivers stems from the proposal to impose hefty fines and up to 10 years of imprisonment for drivers found guilty in hit-and-run cases.

He expressed his disapproval over the Centre's unilateral decision without consulting the lorry owners or anyone in the industry.

Given the existing scarcity of drivers for lorries and other commercial vehicles nationwide, Reddy voiced concerns that the proposed laws could discourage individuals from pursuing careers as drivers.

The press conference included the presence of Association Vice President Srinivasa Rao, along with members Suresh, Mansoor Ibrahim, and General Secretary Narayana Prasad.

Under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the colonial era Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause a serious road accident by negligent driving and run away without informing the police or any official from the administration can face punishment of up to 10 years or a fine of Rs 7 lakh.