BJP band call evokes partial response

Bhopal, May 02: The nationwide strike called by the BJP in protest against price rise had a partial effect on normal life in Madhya Pradesh on Friday with private transport and taxi services plying as usual. However, the state capital was total bandh and majority of the markets remained closed in urban cities including Gwalior, Indore and Jabalpur following the bandh call.

Meanwhile, BJP activists were seen forcing shopkeepers to close their shutters, but no untoward incident was reported from any area in the state till noon, sources said. The nationwide call for general strike given by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in protest against the UPA lead Congress government's failure to check price rise evoked good response. While the shops in almost all the markets opened in the morning, the shopkeepers at various places were forced to close their establishments by the slogan shouting BJP and Bajrang Dal workers.

Particularly in New Bhopal areas, almost all the shops remained closed till late evening, while in the old city, it was virtually a hide and seek between the trading community and pro-bandh activists. The shops were closed at least twice till 3 PM when the businessmen saw activists coming in groups but they opened their shops as soon as the activists passed away. The road and rail transport however continued to ply as usual and the banks and offices also functioned like any other working day. The petrol pumps and medical shops also remained open. The schools and colleges were already closed due to summer vacations.

The police said that no untoward incident had been reported from any part of the state capital. Meanwhile, the BJP has claimed that the bandh call given by it received tremendous response and the people voluntarily came out in its support since they were fed up with the unprecedented price rise due to the policies of the UPA government at the Centre. The Congress, the main opposition, on the other hand blamed the BJP for the ever increase in prices of essential commodities.