CHENNAI: DMK president M Karunanidhi on Saturday urged the Centre to withdraw the Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2015 as its provisions went against federal spirit. The Bill would only pave way for ‘sacrificing’ the existing transport infrastructure to multinational companies, he said.
In a statement here, Karunanidhi said the Bill would snatch away the rights of the States while giving more powers to the Centre.
The provisions which went against the interest of the crores of workers depending upon the transport sector included servicing vehicles only in authorised centres, opting for genuine spares even for two-wheelers and stringent punishment for minor offences, he said adding that the future of employees of PSU transport departments would be in jeopardy. Pointing out that the April 30 strike by trade unions was successful in many parts of the country, Karunanidhi said considering the opposition to the Bill, the Centre should withdraw it now.