‘BHARAT BANDH’ EVOKES LUKEWARM RESPONSE IN UP

LUCKNOW : With shops and offices remaining closed mostly in a few Muslim-dominated areas, the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call got a lukewarm response in most parts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Multiple little known organisations, including Bahujan Kranti Morcha, had reportedly called for the bandh in protest against the recently passed CAA and the proposed NRC.

LUCKNOW: With shops and offices remaining closed mostly in a few Muslim-dominated areas, the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call got a lukewarm response in most parts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.

Multiple little known organisations, including Bahujan Kranti Morcha, had reportedly called for the bandh in protest against the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register for Citizens (NRC).

In Lucknow, traders mostly from the Muslim community kept their shutters down in Old city areas of Moulviganj, Tooriaganj, Akbari Gate, Nakkhas, Patanala, Bajaja and Chaupatian.

Here too, only around 50% shops remained closed, said a local. At Akbari Gate, some youths forced the eateries to down shutters forcing many to return back dejected at not being able to relish delicacies.

The bandh call evoked little response in Prayagraj and Pratapgarh districts where barring few markets, business and routine life remained unaffected.

In Gorakhpur, markets in Muslim localities wore a deserted look as majority of shopkeepers decided to shut down their shops

in support of the bandh call.

In Deoria, former Rajya Sabha MP Aas Mohammad and his wife Asma Khatoon were detained while attempting to stage a sit in with a copy of the Constitution. SP Deoria Dr Shripati Mishra said they had been detained to maintain law and order as section 144 was imposed.

In Meerut region, the call for bandh evoked a tepid response even as three protesters were arrested in Baraut town of Baghpat on charges of forcing people to shut their shops and distributing pamphlets against the CAA.

Ajay Sharma, SHO of Baraut police station, said: “Three protesters

identified as Salim, Suhail and Shamim, were arrested on charges of forcing shopkeepers and vendors to close their shops and join them in the protest.”

In Bareilly and Bahedi , shops remained closed in Old City areas on Wednesday as a mark of antiCAA protest on the call given by several Muslim and Dalit organisations led by Bharat Mukti Morcha and Maulana Sajjad Nomani.

“Over 80 organisations participated in the ‘Bharat Bandh’. The overwhelming response is proof that majority of people are against CAA,” said Maulana Sajjad Nomani, chairman of Rahman Foundation.