Bharat bandh stops India, Mumbai worst-hit

M.today

Monday, July 5:   The Bharat bandh called by the Opposition to protest against rising prices has put the country on hold. Transport has been hit across states. States ruled by the NDA and the Left are the most affected.

 

But Mumbai, ruled by the Congress, is also one of the worst hit with normal life disrupted. Security is tight in the city.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Left parties, which have called for the nationwide bandh, say they are taking the aam admi’s protest to the streets. It is another matter that the aam aadmi is bearing the brunt of Monday’s bandh.

The Opposition parties have cited inflation in double figures, cost of essentials and the sharp rise in fuel prices since the government deregulated oil prices.

 

 

The Left wants the fuel price hike to be rolled back. The BJP has said it there was a World Cup to be won for price hikes, the Congress would be champion.


Central leaders of the NDA, Nitin Gadkari, Sharad Yadav and Rajnath Singh have courted arrest in Delhi after addressing a rally. Other senior leaders have courted arrest across states. Gadkari was released soon after his arrest.


Leaders of the Left, like Brinda Karat and AB Bardhan, and others like Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP too have courted arrest. In Lucknow, Chief Minister Mayawati, who is not supporting the bandh, came down heavily on protesters, using water cannons on Samajwadi Party protesters led by Akhilesh Yadav and lathicharging BJP protesters.