People across Haryana have reacted sharply against the new law that was intended to discipline errant motorist... Read More

GURUGRAM: At a public gathering earlier this week, Dudaram Bishnoi, a BJP candidate from Fatehabad, vowed to put an end to the steep traffic fines being issued under the amended Motor Vehicles Act. “Elect me as an MLA and I’ll end the agony of hefty motor challans,” he said.

People across Haryana have reacted sharply against the new law that was intended to discipline errant motorists and make the roads safer. While the government has given verbal instructions to cops to put brakes on charging penalties, it has failed to pacify voters who have argued that BJP is just trying to ensure its poll prospects are not hurt.

“It’s evident that they don’t want to upset voters and that’s why, they are relaxing the challans these days. But once the elections are over and they have won, the steep fines will be back. People are not just angry but are feeling humiliated. I mean what sense does it make to slap a fine of Rs 2,000 for wearing slippers instead of shoes while riding bikes? I’m a small businessman and have to walk a lot. Shoes hurt my feet and so, I prefer slippers,” complained Naresh Pandit, a trader at Mission Chowk in Sonipat who owns a bike.

Pandit added that the Brahmin community has called a meeting where members will take a call on which party to support. “Anger over the new MV Act could swing the needle away from BJP,” he claims.

Voters in other districts shared these sentiments. Voters in Karnal, Gurugram, and Faridabad have claimed that several of BJP’s core voters are holding meetings and deliberations to weigh out options. “Everything cannot be judged on the basis of intention. We have already given BJP the benefit of having a ‘good intention’ behind demonetisation and GST. Also, where’s the money to pay for such penalties? Earnings are down, traders are in debt, inflation has made us compromise on so many aspects,” complained Dileep a vegetable trader at Khandsa Mandi in Gurugram.

Asked why they need to worry about fines if they follow traffic rules, Dileep and locals around him answered in chorus, “We all know how cops work. They’ll find out a way to extract some sort of money, one way or the other. Last month, my neighbour was fined because his bike slightly touched the zebra crossing at a red light.”

The opposition parties, however, have not been able to turn this resentment into a poll issue. Even if their manifestos promise to relax fines, they failed to bring this to the attention of voters in their rallies or door-to-door campaigns.

This was evident from the fact that many voters weren’t even aware that the opposition parties have said anything concrete on the issue. “I didn’t attend any rally where they (Congress) said something on this. In fact, nobody in my neighbourhood is aware that these parties have any plans to provide us relief from this act. Clearly, this is not an issue for any party,” said Sunil, owner of a small tea stall at Mission Chowk in Sonipat.

While JJP has claimed in its manifesto that they will reduce the challans, Congress leader and de-facto CM face, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has promised to reduce the fines if they come in power. The issue isn’t prominent in INLD’s poll agenda.

But political observers point out that these promises don’t hold much water because of their limited reach. “Unlike BJP, Congress workers aren’t that active on the ground. So, even if the party has made such promises it doesn’t reach to masses and voters at booth-level,” noted veteran political expert Ramji Lal.

The BJP government, for its part, has tried to manage the anger ahead of the polls. The city has seen a nearly 97% drop in issuance of traffic fines since the announcement of elections on September 21. Traffic cops are, instead, focusing on generating awareness among motorists.

“Unfolding right before the elections, the anger over the MV act was a big window for the opposition to put BJP on a back foot. But no party has made any concrete effort to unite these feelings of resentment and use it as a force to enhance their chances,” added Lal.

Satvir Saini, INLD spokesperson said, “If we come to power, we’ll reasonably review the fines so that it doesn’st terrorise people. Right now, fines are putting financial burden. Idea should to be enforce such laws in a way that people don’t feel victimised.”

