Bangalore, J, 11; 
The South Indian Lorry Owners Association has called for an indefinite strike from January 17 against the central government’s amendment to the Road Traffic Act, which imposes 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 7 lakh in Guddodu [hit and run] cases. The lorry strike is likely to affect the transport of essential goods in the state.
Bangalore Lorry Owners Association President Naveen Reddy, Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association President Sella Rajamani, Tamil Nadu Association D. Akbar, Kerala Sangh’s Shaju, Andhra Pradesh’s Basha Ban and Maharashtra Sangh’s President Shankar Dada spoke in a press conference and said that the central government is acting inhumanely in the matter of lorry owners. And Run is twisting the case to his liking. The word “accident” is defined and misused in different ways. Even if someone negligently hits a lorry and causes an accident, the owner of the lorry is blamed. If the current rules on negligent driving are properly implemented, there will be no problem. In a hit and run case The amendment bill regarding punishment has been passed in the Parliament and will become law after receiving the assent of the President. Therefore, he demanded that the government should withdraw this law amendment immediately. 
If there is any accident, the driver will be attacked. It is not easy to stop a heavy vehicle immediately if you get a bike on the rear wheel. If a lorry comes to a halt, the people there will attack the driver. Lorry drivers go to local police stations for self-defense. But he questioned how correct it is to record such incidents as hit and run cases.
There are about 6 lakh owners in our association. There are about 15 lakh lorry drivers in the state. A lorry strike is also going on in neighboring Maharashtra. As a result there was fear of fuel shortage in some places. The All India Motor Transport Congress also said that truck drivers would face unnecessary harassment due to the new rule and demanded withdrawal of the law.
70% of cargo transportation depends on road transport. Even though a toll fee of three rupees per liter is being collected on petrol and diesel, the road is collecting toll and looting. It was decided to hold a protest against the central and state governments in the association meeting held on January 3. An indefinite strike has now been called. But he clarified that ambulance, medicine, hospital and essential goods vehicles are exempted.
