Bharat Bandh call gets lukewarm response in Congress-ruled state
CHANDIGARH:The nationwide shutdown called by the Congress-led opposition parties against rising fuel prices on Monday evoked a mixed response in Punjab.
The Congress, which is in power in the state, held demonstrations and took out protest marches against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at several places, but shops and markets remained open in most parts of the state despite the bandh call.
The state government had declared a public holiday in all its offices and educational institutions, both government and private, to mark the first Parkash Purb (installation) of Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1604. There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state.
JAKHAR LEADS PROTEST IN JALANDHAR
The bandh got partial response in Jalandhar district where the Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar led the protest march. Raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, Jalandhar MP Santokh Chaudhary and other Congress leaders accompanying Jakhar were seen requesting shopkeepers to down their shutters. Barring markets such as Mai Hiran Gate, shops remained open for most part of the day in most areas. Banks and commercial establishments also functioned.
Jakhar said the Centre had turned a “blind eye” to the sufferings of common man who had been hit due to rising fuel prices.
SHOPS REMAIN OPEN IN AMRITSAR
The bandh call received a lukewarm response in the holy city as all private offices, banks, and shops remained open. Even workers and leaders of the District Congress Committee stayed away due to Parkash Purb celebrations. Activists of Left parties staged a protest at Bhandari Bridge and burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the rising prices of fuel prices. Protest marches were taken out in Tarn Taran district.
EVEN AS PUNJAB GOVT HAD DECLARED PUBLIC HOLIDAY TO MARK FIRST PARKASH PURB, SHOPS, MARKETS REMAIN OPEN IN MOST PARTS OF THE STATE
SOME OUTLETS DOWN SHUTTERS IN BATHINDA
The shutdown call received tepid response with the majority of business establishments remaining open throughout the day.
While shopkeepers downed their shutters at Dhobi Bazaar and along Amrik Singh Road for some time, it was business as usual in other parts of the city. Separate protests were held by workers of the Congress and Left parties. The Congress supporters gathered at Sadbhawna Chowk and took out a march in the city.
ARORA APPEALS LOCALS TO SHOW SOLIDARITY
In Hoshiarpur, a partial bandh was observed with cabinet minister Sunder Sham Arora leading the march. He appealed to shopkeepers to shut outlets to express their solidarity on the issue. He said his party had taken the initiative in the interest of the consumers. In Chabbewal, a demonstration was held by MLA Raj Kumar and other leaders.
In Gurdaspur, local MLA Barindermeet Pahra led the protest even as Congress supporters were going from market to market appealing to shopkeepers to keep their shutters down. Shops were shut for a few hours.
ASHU, BITTU TAKE OUT MARCH IN LUDHIANA
Cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu led the protest in Ludhiana. They took out the protest march in the city on a rickshaw at Clock Tower Chowk and lambasted the BJP government at the Centre for rising fuel prices.
In Patiala, cabinet minister Sadhu Singh led party workers in holding demonstration against the ruling BJP over increased fuel rates.