BJP, traders hold counter protests

While the Congress organised a rally to present its defence on various allegations of corruption and its decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, the opposition BJP observed a ‘Black Day’and staged protests all over the Capital. Traders also protested at Jantar Mantar.

While the Congress organised a rally to present its defence on various allegations of corruption and its decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observed a ‘Black Day’and staged protests all over the Capital. Traders also protested at Jantar Mantar.

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Various BJP leaders addressed several groups of people telling them about the “adverse effect of FDI in retail and Congress’s corrupt practices”. The meetings that started at 8 in the morning continued till late evening.

“FDI will badly affect traders. Also, the government has failed to contain the price hike. The life of a common man has become very difficult,” BJP Delhi unit president Vijender Gupta said.

Leader of the BJP in Delhi assembly Vijay Kumar Malhotra, senior party leader Vijay Goel, former mayor Arti Mehra and Vani Tripathi were among the party leaders who addressed the rallies and led the demonstrations.

At Jantar Mantar, the confederation of traders led a unique demonstration.

A buffalo calf in front of Jantar Mantar is not a sight most Delhiites have seen. On Sunday, however, a group of traders took the saying “Bhains Ke Aagey Been Bajana” to a whole new level as they literally did that to protest the government move to introduce FDI in retail sector.

A young buffalo, who was brought from Meerut, was put up on the makeshift stage, adorned with a garland and then members of the Confederation of All India Traders played “been” (a snake charmer’s musical instrument) around it and chanted slogans like “FDI wapas lo, Rollback”.

“If you play music in front of a buffalo, it doesn't even budge let alone understand it. The same is the case with the Congress government,” secretary general of the association Praveen Khandelwal said. “This is a symbolic protest on a serious issue. A message to an insensitive government,” Khandelwal added.

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who also attended the unique anti-FDI protest, said the party would take up the issue in the winter session of Parliament.