Congress’s protest is to protect common man’s rights: Babbar
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Congress president Raj Babbar on Sunday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was not concerned about the sufferings of the common man and only cared for the rights of a few influential people.
Speaking about the Congress’ proposed Bharat Bandh on Monday in protest against rising prices of petrol and diesel, Babbar said: “People from across the country will come out of their houses on Monday to support the bandh. Though the Congress is calling it a bandh, it is a campaign to protect the rights of the common man.”
“Inflation and soaring prices of fuel have made people’s lives difficult. We will try to draw the attention of the ruling party towards the people’s problems,” he said.
Babbar said the Congress had approached other opposition parties to participate in the nationwide bandh.
Though the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have not officially extended their support to the bandh call, Babbar asserted that the opposition parties had assured them their support.
As per the plan, Congress workers will stage protests in cities, district headquarters and tehsils. “We demand that the government should take steps to bring down inflation and prices of fuel. The government should also carry out a detailed investigation into the Rafale deal,” Babbar said.
SP TO SUPPORT BANDH
In view of Congress’ Bharat Bandh call, the Samajwadi Party has cancelled all meetings scheduled for Monday.
SP’s chief spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said, “The party members have been asked to stage a protest against inflation and corruption. They should support demands of farmers across the state.”
CONGRESS PREPARATIONS
Meanwhile, the Congress started preparations for the Monday’s Bharat Bandh against rising prices of petrol and diesel.
In Allahabad, All-India Congress Committee (AICC) member Anugrah Narain Singh said party activists would stage demonstrations at district headquarters and take out processions to highlight the failure of the NDA government. “The Narendra Modi government is neglecting the problems of the common man and has failed to bring down prices of fuel and other essential commodities,” he said.
Co-incharge of UP for Congress Prakash Joshi said people from all walks of life would support the bandh on Monday as every person was affected by the BJP’s misrule.
In Gorakhpur, Congress workers visited prominent markets and appealed to traders and shopkeepers to extend support to Bharat Bandh. Several outfits including Purvanchal Sena, Ambedkarwadi Sena and students’ leaders have already announced their support to the agitation.
Earlier in the day, Congress leaders held a meeting with people of similar ideologies and chalked out a strategy.
District general secretary of Congress Anwar Hussain said: “We have appealed to the people not to travel to Gorakhpur unless it is very urgent as highways and roads may be blocked by protesters.”
In Varanasi, Congress national spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi will lead the Bharat Bandh. Congress leaders Ajai Rai and Rajesh Mishra will lead a march on the occasion.
Varanasi unit Congress leader Shailendra Singh said that all preparations for the bandh had been completed.
In Agra, Congress national secretary Naseeb Singh reviewed the preparations for the bandh.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders and workers took out a procession
in Meerut on Sunday and appealed to the people to support their bandh call.
Congress’ Meerut district unit president Vinod Mogha said they had sent letters to bar association, petrol pump dealers, traders’ associations and other organisations seeking their support in the agitation.
Meanwhile, general secretary of the Rashtriya Paan Kisan Union Choteylal Chaurasia supported the bandh call against fuel price hike. Chaurasia said the union had asked the paan (betel leaf) farmers, wholesalers and traders to back the bandh.