Truck strike: Solution in sight as govt extends olive branch

Govt says truckers will be consulted before finalizing code, asks drivers to return to work

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Fuel stations ran dry across parts of the country and wholesale vegetable markets received a fraction of the commodities F they usually do as a national truckers' strike entered its second day.

The drivers had called for a three-day protest against harsher new penalties for hit-and-run offences included in India's new criminal code.

The Union government opened talks with association leaders later in the day, with the home ministry issuing appeals to the drivers to return to work, stating detailed discussions will be held before the new stringent new legal provisions take effect.

After a meeting with Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, representatives of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) one of the unions representing truck drivers-said discussions were successful and the new punishments will not be invoked until the next meeting, reiterating the government's call for truck drivers to resume duty. To be sure, the strike was not called by AIMTC but by smaller unions at the state level that have links to it.

"We had a discussion with All India Motor Transport Congress representatives. The government wants to say that the new rule has not been implemented yet. 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," said Bhalla.