Madhya Pradesh: Transporters protest in Bhopal, stop buses, cabs, autos

Bhopal: Transporters protested in Bhopal and other districts of Madhya Pradesh on Monday morning as they demanded withdrawal of new provisions under hit-and-run cases, hiking imprisonment to 7 years and fines of up to Rs 10 lakh for the convicted drivers.

In Bhopal, the members of Transporter Unions gathered at many places in the city, like Lal Ghati, Peergate, and Hamidia Road, and waylaid the red buses and autorickshaws. They even stopped autorickshaws and cabs midway and forced the passengers out of the vehicles, insisting they must walk to their destination.

The old city's Bhopal Talkies area was also impacted. Passengers coming from other cities were at the receiving end as no auto was seen outside Bhopal Railway Station.

As per reports, a group of protesters thrashed two auto drivers carrying passengers at Gandhi Nagar.

Taxi union extends support

After much pressure, the taxi union extended support to the transporters' strike. Nafis Uddin, president of the Bhopal taxi union, called the new penal law a "kaala kanoon" (black law).

Slamming Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said, "No driver ever aims to kill people on the road. As far as possible, they try to save the passengers and other vehicles. The government must withdraw the new provisions."

Effect of protest seen in other cities of state

The effect of protest was seen in other cities of the state. In protest against the new law of the Motor Vehicle Act, drivers and conductors launched a strike in Sendhwa, Barwani. The buses at Sendhwa bus station did not start due to indefinite strike. Around 150 bus drivers and operators remained on strike causing hardship to passengers. The drivers said they would love to work as a laborer but due to such laws we will not drive.

In Dewas, truck and bus drivers took to the streets in protest against the hit and run law and tried to block roads at two to three places in Dewas city. After that, the local Rasoolpur bypass was blocked for two hours, due to which queues of vehicles formed.

In Narsinghpur district, truck and other vehicle drivers blocked the road. The drivers said that we earn Rs 5,000 in a month and the new law provides for a fine of lakhs of rupees and long imprisonment, which is very condemnable.

Bus operators protested in Gwalior, Jabalpur and other districts and wheels of buses stopped in all other districts.