20 parties to support Congress’s ‘Bharat bandh’

Over 20 political parties from across the country have said they will take part in a ‘Bharat bandh’ called by the Congress on Monday

Over 20 political parties from across the country have said they will take part in a ‘Bharat bandh’ called by the Congress on Monday against the recent hikes in fuel prices and falling value of the rupee against the US dollar, the party’s Delhi chief Ajay Maken said on Sunday.

Leaders of several opposition parties hold a torchlight procession during a protest against the fuel price hike ahead of Bharat Bandh, in Ranchi, Sunday, Sept 09, 2018. (PTI)

At a press conference on Sunday, Maken said, “The ‘bandh’ will be violence-free. We request all businessmen to support us in this.” The Nationalist Congress Party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Samajwadi Party have extended support to the nationwide shutdown, he claimed.

Maken said that apart from traders who could close shops, there would be protests near petrol pumps. “In the last four years, excise duty has increased by 211.7% on petrol and 443% on diesel. In May 2014, excise duty on petrol was Rs 9.2, whereas now it is Rs 19.48. Similarly, excise duty on diesel was Rs 3.46 in May 2014, however, it is Rs 15.33 now,” Maken added.

Demanding the government bring petrol and diesel under the ambit of the Good and Services Tax, he said, “If this happens, there will be a drop of Rs 15-18 in the prices of petrol and diesel. Not just that, there will be a decline in price of other things also.”

The Aam Aadmi Party, the ruling party in Delhi, said they will not participate in the Cong’s shutdown but will organising their own protest at Jantar Mantar. “The issue being raised is genuine but the Congress has no moral right to protest against this. Things were no different during their regime,” AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

He also attacked the Centre, saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping to win a second term in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by burdening people with high prices for basic commodities.