In the wake of alleged involvement of buses owned by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal leaders in accidents in Punjab, the opposition Congress on Friday sought a halt on the plying of all such buses till their drivers and these vehicles underwent tests."Rigorous tests of drivers of these buses should be conducted to check as to why they are causing so many fatal accidents frequently, before they can again be allowed to take to the wheels. As an immediate step, all of their buses be grounded," Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh said in a statement here."Drivers operating buses owned by Akali leaders, including those of the Badal family, are a law unto themselves. They don't give a damn to anyone, including police or transport officials," the former chief minister said.
"Nobody dares to check their documents, whether they have valid driving licences, whether they are visually, mentally and physically fit to drive or how many of them are under the influence of alcohol and drugs while driving. The buses must also be checked as to whether these are in a roadworthy condition," the Congress leader said."We cannot let them wantonly kill people and then buy peace with the bereaved kin," he said.Buses owned by Shiromani Akali Dal leaders have been in the news recently for alleged involvement in accidents in Punjab. A 10-year-old girl was mowed down by a bus allegedly owned by an Akali leader on Thursday in Punjab's Ferozepur district, after which angry locals took to the streets and blocked the Amritsar-Zira highway. Last week, a 14-year-old girl was crushed in Muktsar district allegedly by another bus owned by his company.