New Delhi: Defending hike in traffic fines, Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that it is important to save lives and create a fear of law. In an interview to NDTV, Mr Gadkar said that the states will be responsible if they try to dilute penalty for traffic violations. Earlier today, he had appealed to states against softening a new law that imposes steep fines for traffic violations, a day after his own party's government in Gujarat slashed penalties.
Here are the highlights of Nitin Gadkari's interview to NDTV:
- The fines are not just being imposed on some people. I got my challan cut, so did some Chief Ministers
- The hike in penalties is not for revenue but to save lives
- In India, 30% of the licenses are bogus. There is no respect or fear for law
- People laugh at traffic cops and go past them. Are they doing it for entertainment? They are doing it to save lives
- It's time that the country thinks about saving lives. 65% of 150,000 people killed in road accidents are 18-35 years old
- It is the duty of Gujarat's minister to reduce deaths. They may have thought about it. If it happens they get the credit, if it doesn't then they have to address the matter.
- Does any Indian dare drive without a licence when they go to UK or Canada? Fines need to be there for fear of the law
- Why did we call for hanging for rape? We did this to create fear of law