Amarnath Land row: nation wide Bandh hit normal life!
Jul 4, 2008 Politics
All India shutdown called by the BJP-VHP on Thursday against J&K govt decision of revoking of the land donated to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has disrupted normal life in most part of the country. The protest left two persons killed while most of the rail and road transport was blocked. After the revoke of the order of transferring forestland to Amarnath shrine board, BJP-VHP demanded removal of Governor N N Vohra.
Many incidents of violence were reported by the protesters affecting road and railway transport. Along with, all markets were closed on the day. Bandh supporters stopped the Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi express at Agra. BJP supporters blocked the major highways including Delhi-Amritsar highway at Shambhu Barrier and the Delhi-Noida-Delhi flyover in Delhi. Western Express Highway in Mumbai was also blocked. Many trains were also being targeted. Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express has been stopped near Agra.
Jammu, the epicenter of the violence hit normal life in the state along with parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Assam and Jharkand. Meanwhile, in Jammu, curfew continued for the second day and pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi Shrine were among those stranded. The situation in Jammu remains tense with curfew remained in various parts of the state.
The VHP is also taking an active part in the bandh. “The forest act issue is just an excuse,” VHP general secretary Venkatesh Abdeo said. “This is a conspiracy to stop the Amarnath pilgrimage. Tomorrow it will be Vaishnodevi and Tirupati.”
The capital city was also affected largely by the bandh. There were violent incidents reported in the city in some regions. Shops were forcefully stopped in the Lakshmi Nagar area while whole market was closed in Karol Bagh too. Delhi Police assured that adequate security arrangements have been made in wake of the bandh and strict vigilance is going.
Similar scenario was viewed in financial capital Mumbai where protesters pelted buses with stones in suburban Kandivili damaging five best buses and blocked roads also. Important arterial roads at Vakola, Malad and Borivili in Northwest Mumbai and in the Northeast suburb of Ghatkopar were blocked.
In Thane, members of right wing Hindu organization were moving around the city since morning with flags in their hands forcing shop owners to down shutters. Even in Nagpur incidents of stone pelting were reported from Dighori and few places in south and eastern part of the city, said police. Some activists damaged about eight buses late last night in eastern part of city, they said.
Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed in most parts. Similar effects were seen in Karnataka state.
Tags: Amarnath Row, Bandh, BJP, India, India Bandh, Jammu, Kashmir, Land Deal, VHP
Fuel price hike protest: Kolkata Bandh!
Jun 5, 2008 Politics
In protest of the hike in petroleum prices, The CPI (M) has called for a 12-hour bandh in Left ruled states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura on Thursday.
Although there is nation wide protest against the decision as people are not happy with the significant hike of Rs 5 in petrol prices and Rs 3 in Deisel along with Rs 50 in LPG. The CPI on its part has announced a total shutdown in Kolkata.
West Bengal is highly affected by the bandh especially Kolkata. In Kolkata shops, markets and educational institutions remained closed. City streets were silent amid bandh. Train and air services were also affected. Bandh supporters squatted on railway tracks in different parts of the state, Kanojia said.
Various airlines suspended their operations of outgoing flights from Kolkata during the 12-hour bandh period. Kingfisher Airlines have announced the cancellation of eight flights. They rescheduled eight flights.
However trains and vehicles are running in Kerala as usual in spite of the bandh.
Left parties called the hike “suicidal”. The bandh will be preceded by a state-wide protest and rallies this evening. Mr Bose said that he had discussed with the leaders of the Left Front constituents before arriving at a decision in this regard. Terming the price hike “anti-people”, he said it would further increase prices of essential commodities and push the inflation to 10 per cent as it would have a cascading effect raising the transportation cost.
There will be similar strikes in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu later this week.
The hike in petroleum prices were decided in wake of increasing price of fuel in international market touching the heights of $130 per barrel. Prime Minister appealed to the nation yesterday after the announcement to take the decision calmly as the hike is inevitable.
Fuel price hike gave a jolt to common man who is already fighting with increasing inflation. Whatever be the political and economical reasons behind the hike but common mans problems are definitely increased and their life get tougher.
Tags: Bandh, Kerela, Kolkata, Left Parties, Price hike, Strike, Tripura
