Bharat bandh total in West Bengal

Congress called it fallout of hooliganism by cadres of the ruling Left Front and Trinamool dubbed it a fruitless exercise, but the fact of the matter was West Bengal observed a total shutdown on Monday.

The Left Front claimed it was a spontaneous response by the common man to the hike in petroleum prices.

Congress leaders did not disagree that the hike was harsh but said it was unavoidable in the current economic scenario.

As the day broke, bandh supporters armed with party flags and sticks took to the streets and began ensuring traffic was off roads in Kolkata. Even authenticity of patients was ascertained before letting their vehicles pass.

Educational institutions, government and private offices, shops, hotels and restaurants remained closed. The only sector that was working was IT, which had arranged for night stay of employees on Sunday.

The entire cabinet, barring chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, actively participated in the bandh.

West Bengal Congress chief Manas Bhuyian justified the fuel price hike, saying, “It is not possible for oil companies to incur further losses and the government cannot continue giving subsidy indefinitely. It needs to raise money for social welfare projects.”