Mixed response to Congress's bandh call in Gujarat

The Congress party's nationwide bandh call to protest against high fuel prices evoked mixed response in Gujarat. The bandh was largely peaceful barring a few scattered incidents of violence, even as dozens of Congress leaders and workers were detained in several cities.

Congress leaders and workers took to the streets across the state for enforcing the bandh call since the morning itself. In Ahmedabad, the bandh call received good response in eastern areas, but poor reaction in western parts. Congress workers stopped BRTS buses at Danilimda and formed a human chain to block traffic. Stones were pelted on an AMTS bus in Shahpur, and a few other places. Shops in Manek Chowk also remained closed.

A number of schools had declared a holiday on their own in view of safety of students. A few such as Ahmedabad International School, Zydus School, and others, which were functioning, were forced to shut down. St Xavier's and a few other colleges were also forcibly closed by protestors of Youth Congress and NSUI.

Gujarat Congress's in-charge Rajeev Satav and state party president took part in the protest at Lal Darwaza, Ahmedabad. However, both were detained by police.

Speaking with reporters just before that, Chavda said the bandh was successful, as people had joined on their own. He warned the government that people would unseat it if prices were not checked. He also accused police of detaining Congress members without any reason. Satav said that the bandh call was getting a good response in the whole country.

"We thank people for the support they have given to our bandh call. We hope the government will reduce petrol and diesel prices and provide relief to common man," he said.

In Surat, Congress workers forced shopkeepers to down their shutters.

In Vadodara, bus service was stopped as a precaution, while Congress workers forced petrol pumps and schools-colleges to close.

In Bharuch, party workers blocked traffic on National Highway 8, disrupting movement of vehicles for over half an hour. They also burnt tyres on the road leading to Dahej and blocked traffic. In Amreli, leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani resorted to picketing and appealed shop owners to observe bandh.

In Rajkot, shops were closed in many places, and ST bus services were also stopped.

In Kheda, workers distributed roses among shopkeepers and sought their participation in the bandh. The BJP, however, said that the bandh call had failed to evoke any response from people, and accused Congress of politicising the fuel price issue.

260 
protestors detained by the Ahmedabad police during the day-long Bharat bandh 

210 
protestors were detained by Sector-2 police. Some protestors vandalised public buses 

50 
protestors detained by Sector-1 police. They were allowed to leave around 3 pm.

BANDH IN A NUTSHELL

In Surat: Congress workers forced shopkeepers to down their shutters.

In Vadodara: bus service was stopped as a precaution, while Congress workers forced petrol pumps and schools-colleges to close.

In Bharuch: party workers blocked traffic on National Highway 8, disrupting movement of vehicles for over half an hour.  They also burnt tyres on the road leading to Dahej and blocked traffic. 

In Amreli: leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani resorted to picketing and appealed shop owners to observe bandh.

In Rajkot: shops were closed in many places, and ST bus services were also stopped.

In Kheda: workers distributed roses among shopkeepers and sought their participation in the bandh.