Tourist taxis in Meghalaya will go on a 48-hour strike as part of the ongoing protest against the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a yet-to-be-implemented regulation.
A coordinated effort aligns with various taxi and transport associations in the region.
The strike, commencing at 5 am on Friday, aims to demonstrate dissent towards the BNS. Bhaskar Deb, general secretary of the Khasi Hills Tourist Taxi Association, emphasised that all taxis would cease operation in opposition to the proposed law.
Deb highlighted concerns regarding the BNS’s potential repercussions, stating that drivers would be disinclined to operate under a law that might lead to imprisonment in case of accidents.
He lamented the common bias against commercial vehicle drivers in accidents citing the prevailing tendency to solely blame them. Sangma noted the lack of support for drivers, often subjected to aggression from the public following accidents due to their economic status.
The protest extends beyond Meghalaya with commercial vehicles throughout the region scheduled to strike on January 6.