Bharat 'bandh' as it happened

Opposition parties have given a call for a nationwide bandh on Thursday to protest the government's reform measures announced last week. 

Check out the latest happening here!

Approximately 5 crore traders and 25 thousand trade associations are observing the bandh today  demanding rollback of FDI in multi-brand retail.

Colleges, Schools, markets and transport services are likely to be affected in most states across India.

Workers belonging to BJP Yuva Morcha blocked 3 trains at Patna railway station.

In Allahabad,.Samajwadi Party workers staged demonstrations on rail tracks while CPI (ML) workers have stopped the Ganga Sagar Express in Bihar.

There are also reports of trains being stopped in Bhubaneswar in Odisha.

Public transport is off the roads, Offices, schools, shops and restaurants remain shut in Bangalore.

Trains, Buses, autos and taxis operate normally in Mumbai after Shiv Sena and MNS decide not to support NDA's call for Bharat bandh due to Ganeshotsav.

Restaurants and shops also to remain open.

In Delhi, the transport is not affected with rickshaws and taxis plying on roads.

However, shops remain closed.

In Kokata,  the BJP and TMC workers clash in Howrah as two rallies meet.

The BJP was conducting a rally the bandh while the TMC rally was against it.

The trains, buses, autos and taxis are normally operating in Mumbai, after Shiv Sena and MNS decided not to support NDA's call for Bharat bandh due to Ganeshotsav.

But the retailers in the city have supported the bandh and downed their shutters. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party workers are likely to march to the Prime Minister's residence by 11am to protest against FDI and hike in diesel prices.

Normal life in Manipur was affected by the12-hour strike called by BJP and Left parties against the diesel price hike, FDI in multi-brand retail and ceiling on subsidised LPG.

In Jharkhand, railway, road and others services were badly affected and hit the common man hard.

Banks, markets, shops and educational institutions were closed, with government offices recording low attendance, reports in Meghalaya said.

Thursday's nationwide shutdown called by NDA, Left parties and Samajwadi Party to protest the government's last week announcement of diesel price hike, FDI in multi-brand retail and cap on subsidised LPG evoked mixed response, even as protesters disrupted road and rail traffic in parts of UP, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha.

Unconfirmed reports coming in: Despite the fact that life in Mumbai is fairly normal, BJP leader Gopinath Munde has been reportedly arrested in Mumbai for protesting against the government.

SP, Left take out protest march towards Parliament street.

BJP protestors destroy government buses at Barasat,  Kolkata. Few passengers have been hurt in the incident.

The autos and buses supported by TMC are running while BJP supported vehicles have kept off the road.

BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu has been detained in Hyderabad, Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar have been arrested in Bangalore for protesting against the government.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, Prakash Karat, AB Bardhan, Sitaram Yechury and Chandrababu Naidu court arrest in Delhi during Bharat Bandh.

Mulayam and the other leaders who courted arrested were later released.

Thursday's nationwide bandh called by the opposition parties found unexpected yet unofficial support in the students of Mumbai, with most colleges reporting only 20-50% attendance on the day.

Mulayam Singh Yadav warns the UPA government saying, "Will announce alternative if government does not rollback prices."

Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and AB Bardhan shared the dais with BJP's Nitin Gadkari and Murli Manohar Joshi at a demonstration against FDI in retail and hike in diesel prices.

Mulayam Singh Yadav says his party's support to UPA is to keep communal forces at bay, but it will not tolerate price rise.

Sharpening the attack on the government over its decision to bring FDI in multi-brand retail, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav asked the Congress to remove Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for this "attack on the bread of butter of 25 crore people".

 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee drags President Pranab Mukherjee into FDI in retail trade row by posting a statement he made as finance minister on her Facebook page.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said Thursday's nation-wide strike has caused a huge damage to the Indian economy and the common people.

Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that she was opposed to UPA politically and did not support the bandh.

She said that bandhs have ruined West Bengal and added that TMC will hold peaceful demonstrations.

The nation-wide strike against the government decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and hike diesel prices is estimated to have caused losses to the tune of Rs12,500 crore ($2.25 billion) to the Indian economy, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said on Thursday.

TMC Ministers will resign on Friday and have sought appointment with the President, said Mamata Banerjee. TMC will give a letter to the President withdrawing support to the UPA government on Friday, she said.

"FDI in retail will not be accepted at any cost and there will be no negotiations on the issue," she added.

NCP leader and Union minister Sharad Pawar, in an interview with NDTV said that Mamata Banerjee was consulted on all issues. He said hard economic decisions were required.

Retail FDI reforms will come into affect from today.

Government's move indicates that its going ahead with reforms.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a statement on FDI and  fuel price hike on Friday.