BJP strike evokes mixed response

NEW DELHI: The dawn-to-dusk nationwide strike called by BJP on Friday against spiralling prices of essential commodities had a mixed response with party activists forming human chains and staging demonstrations at several places that were by and large peaceful.

However, essential services functioned normally as public offices remained open and vehicles were seen plying smoothly on the roads. There were some minor incidents of stone pelting at some places.

In the national capital, major wholesale markets as well as some retail markets downed their shutters as a large number of traders held a demonstration at Rajghat.

The bandh also evoked mixed response in BJP-ruled states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand despite activists of the party and supporting organisations staging dharnas and shouting slogans against the Centre for its “failure” to check the steep rise in the prices of essential commodities.

In Maharashtra, BJP activists formed human chains in Nagpur,  Amravati, Akola, Washim, Nashik, Aurangabad  and Pune.

However, the bandh disrupted normal life in Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Manipur with shops, markets and business  establishments remaining closed.

In Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh, it evoked a partial response.
Down south, the strike affected normal life in Kerala and Puducherry but failed to make any impact in Tamil Nadu and poll-bound Karnataka where its senior leader LK Advani launched the party’s campaign.