Dilution of Road Fines, States To Be Responsible: Gadkari

UnionMinister Nitin Gadkari said that the states will be responsible if they try todilute traffic violation fines adding that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) was embarrassed by its own government in Gujarat slashing fines under anamended law cleared by parliament recently.

Gadkari asked isn't life more important than money? He asked those who are refusing to enforce the fines. People need to have a fear of law. Why was the death penalty for rape after the Nirbhaya case? To create a fear of the law, said Gadkari.

TheBJP ruled government on Tuesday announced that the fines would be reduced by 90percent, even though the party's government at the centre pushed for steep newpenalties under the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act.

Reactingon the fines imposed on the public, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeesaid that the fines were too harsh that they wouldn't apply in her state.

Pressed on whether he could force states to fall in line, Gadkari said, "Jisko karna hai kare, na karna na kare (those who want to enforce it can do it. Those who don't need not)."

Gadkarifurther stated that the new rules have been drafted after consultations andstudying the laws in the UK, Canada, California and Argentina.

He said that he will tell all the Chief Ministers to get into this and that if needed, he will speak to them.

Gadkarisaid that it's time that the country thinks about saving lives. 1,50,000 peopleget killed on the roads in a year and 65 percent of them are 18-35 years old. Theyhaven't been killed in terror strikes or riots. The new law has done to savelives. This should be above parties and state governments.