No Cylinders in Hotels, Queue at Petrol Pumps: Mumbai Police Urges People Not To Indulge In Panic Buying; Truck Drivers Call Off Stir

Long queues were witnessed at petrol pumps in Mumbai on Tuesday amid the possibility of fuel shortage due to truck drivers’ protests.

Mumbai Police urged people not to indulge in panic buying and said enough fuel stock is available.

Meanwhile, truck drivers and several transport associations, called off their agitation after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla assured them that their views would be considered before the implementation of a new law regarding hit-and-run cases.

The Home Secretary met representatives of the All India Motor Transport Congress which announced a strike on Monday against jail and fine under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for hit-and-run cases.

“We had a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives, govt want to say that the new rule has not been implemented yet, we all want to say that before implementing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 106/2, we will have a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives and then only we will take a decision,” Bhalla said.

Amrit Lal Madan, President of All India Motor Transport Congress, said, “You are not just our drivers you are our soldiers…We do not want you to face any inconvenience…Union Home Minister Amit Shah has kept the ten years of punishment & fine that was imposed, on hold. Until the next meeting of the All India Motor Transport Congress is held no laws will be imposed”

The restaurants in Mumbai have reportedly not received gas cylinders. More than 50 trucks of commercial gas cylinders of private distributors are said to be stuck at BPCL plant. Visuals also showed bikers queuing up at Sakinaka and Mira Road petrol pumps.

Some petrol pumps in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district stopped functioning on Monday, an office-bearer of the petroleum dealers association said.

In Navi Mumbai, a policeman was injured when a group of truckers attacked him in Nerul in the morning hours, prompting police to use force to disperse the mob gathered on the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway, an official said on Monday.

The nation-wide strike is to oppose the provision of Rs 7 lakh penalty and 10-year jail term for hit-and-run cases under the newly-passed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The All India Motor Transport Congress said these provisions, which have yet to come in force, can lead to undue harassment, and must be recalled.

The Maharashtra Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Protection Department had already written a letter to all police commissioners and superintendents of police expressing concern about the stir and its affect on the supply of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders.

Considering the affect of the strike, the police was requested to take necessary measures to ensure smooth and uninterrupted supply of those products.

The department also urged for appropriate action under the Essential Commodities Act against drivers and transporters for interruption of supply of petroleum products.

The Food and Civil Supply Department also expected truckers to not get involved in untoward incidents and cause law and order problems.

Meanwhile, School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar said that school bus drivers must not take part in the truck drivers’ strike. “This issue can be resolved through dialogue and people’s safety is also equally important. We have even taken up this issue in the cabinet. Most trucks drive on the wrong lanes. The hit-and-run subject can be discussed but heavy vehicle drivers must also follow traffic rules to save lives. School bus drivers must not take part in this and play with the education of kids,” Kesarkar was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

(with inputs from PTI)