BJP calls for bandh in protest against bus fare hike

Delhiites may have to face inconvenience on Friday as BJP has given a 'bandh' call to protest against hike in bus fares and skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.

The party on Thursday appealed to all sections of the society, including traders, industrialists, workers and students to support the 'bandh' protesting Delhi government's "anti-people policies".

Police said they have made adequate arrangements to maintain normalcy in the city.

General Secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Praveen Khandelwal said all major wholesale and retail markets will observe the bandh to protest the hike in bus and metro fare as well as price rise of essential commodities.

He said the crime rate against the trading community has increased considerably in the city. Khandelwal said the traders will participate in a unique two-hour 'half naked' protest march from Red Fort to Chandni Chowk on Friday to express their anger against the government.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly V K Malhotra said the Sheila Dikshit-led Government is least "bothered about the plight of the common people" as it has been mercilessly taking decisions to increase burden on the citizens.

"The common man is suffering. Bus fairs have surged to such an extent that people do not prefer travelling in the buses at all. All this is done to benefit the blueline buses, while the government always claims to wipe away these buses from the roads," Malhotra told reporters.

Slamming the government for its "gross negligence" in checking prices of essential commodities, he alleged that it is encouraging profiteering and hoarding.

"The Government has become despotic and it has completely disassociated itself from curbing the price rise," the senior BJP leader added.

He said transport and essential services will be allowed to run during the bandh so that people do not face any inconvenience.

Accusing the UPA government and the Delhi government of deceit and betrayal, Senior BJP leader M L Khurana said, "The 'deaf and dumb' government doesn't care about the public and is just deceiving them."

The party also demanded that the sugar bungling case should be enquired and a PDS system be strengthened as soon as possible.

"We have just called for a bandh tomorrow, we will opt for severe means if the price rise isn't controlled and our demands not met," said M L Khurana.

Also castigating the government on the occasion were former Central Minister Vijay Goel and former State BJP Chief Harsh Vardhan.

IN.COM