Normal life was disrupted in some states and top leaders of the various parties courted arrest against ‘anti people policy’ of centre.
Protesters blocked trains and road traffic in many areas in Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and other places and staged demonstrations. However, no major untoward incident was reported from anywhere. While in Delhi most of the markets, private schools remained closed and traffic was disrupted at some places.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Left leaders Prakash Karat and A B Bardhan courted arrest in New Delhi after holding a joint demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
A protest rally in support of bandh was addressed by NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav and BJP President Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi. The bandh also evoked little response in the country’s commercial hub Mumbai owing to Ganesh festivities across Maharashtra.
Terming today’s bandh as successful, the BJP reiterated its demand for roll back of recent diesel price hike, capping supply of LPG cylinder and bringing FDI in retail trade Talking to reporters in New Delhi the BJP President Nitin Gadkari today said that the government’s move will largely impact the common man and small traders will lose their jobs by allowing FDI in retail.
CPI(M) today termed the today’s bandh a successful one. In a Polit Bureau statement issued in New Delhi, the party has reiterated its demand of roll back of government’s decision. The party said the struggle against these decisions should be intensified in the coming days.
On the other hand, criticising the bandh, the Finance Minister Mr P. Chidambaram today expressed serious objection over the manner in which protests and bandhs are being held in a way causing economic losses and public inconvience. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Chidambaram said, the government is stable.
Industry bodies like Assocham and CII said that today’s Bharat Bandh would have caused losses ranging between 10,000 to 12,500 crore rupees to the economy. In a statement, the Assocham said that the political parties should support economic reforms. While CII expressed the hope that political parties would work to ensure that the economic reforms that are necessary for India are carried out.
Earlier, protestors disrupted rail and road traffic in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, it has little impact in Mumbai.In the national capital Delhi, most of the markets are closed but vehicular movement is normal though protestors blocked traffic at some places.
In Uttar Pradesh, shops and business establishments are closed and supporters of bandh tried to disrupt train movement. Movement of four trains was disrupted near Allahabad junction railway station. Reports say people also stopped trains at Patna junction in Bihar.
In West Bengal also the train services of the eastern and south eastern Railways have been disrupted. Most of the shops and business establishments and educational institutions are closed and private transport is off the road. However, Metro rail and flight operation are normal from Kolkata.
In Andhra Pradesh, opposition stalled proceedings in the House demanding discussion on roll back of diesel prices. Reports of bandh have come from Puducherry where normal life has been disrupted.
In Jammu, shops and business establishments are closed and protestors took out rallies in support of the bandh.
In Tamil Nadu, there is little response to the bandh. Transport services including bus, rail and air traffic were functioning as usual. Shops and business establishments in the city outskirts continued to function. School and educational institutions are functioning normally today.
In Karnataka, schools and colleges, offices and shops are closed.In Rajasthan, the bandh call got a mixed response. In Jaipur, major markets and business establishments remained closed and public transport was hit partially as many private buses and auto rickshaws remained off the road.
Reports of bandh disrupting normal life have also come in from Punjab, Haryana and Meghalaya.