Auto drivers oppose Motor Vehicle Bill

The autorickshaw drivers under the banner of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a protest in front of deputy commissioner’s office here on Tuesday, condemning the proposed Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Addressing the protesters, CITU district president Balakrishna Shetty said that the workforce in transport sector was in distress due to heavy losses. The retail trade which is part of transport was also facing huge loss owing to lack of business. If at all the proposed amendments come into force, stakeholders associated with the transport business would suffer massively.

He said that the central government was out to hand over the transport sector to corporates from India and abroad and demanded the Union government to shelve the plan for amending the Motor Vehicle Act.

Sadashiv Poojary of Udupi district Autorickshaw and Vehicle Drivers Association said that the drivers were being held responsible for the accidents though the roads were in bad condition. He said that the provisions of the Bill were not practical.

The protesters shouted slogans against the central government and demanded that the petroleum products be brought under GST. They also sought that the insurance premium be brought down.