THE BJP-SPONSORED ‘Bharat Bandh’, in protest against hike in prices of petroleum products, evoked poor response in the State Capital and its adjoining districts.
The show was so poor in the city that hardly 200 party workers sat on a dharna at the GPO Park for a while to complete the formality of ‘chakka jaam’. Besides, they put up a road blockade on the Vidhan Sabha Marg for a few minutes. Later, they returned to the party office. The number of policemen deployed to avert any untoward incident was more than the demonstrators.
BJP Legislature Party leader Lalji Tandon reached the park, addressed the thin gathering and left the venue. The party leaders attributed the poor show to the scorching heat.
Tandon, in his speech, said that the unprecedented price rise was the only ‘gift’ of the UPA Government. He alleged that the Central Government was being run under pressure of the Left and on the directives and orders of Sonia Gandhi. The agitation would continue till the Central Government withdraws the steep hike in prices of petroleum products.
Tandon condemned the State Government’s lethargy in effective implementation of the provisions of the Act in which cow slaughtering had been banned in the State. The BJP units of Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao and Rae Bareli were able to moblise hardly 100 persons for the demonstration and ‘chakka jaam’.
Talking to reporters, state party spokesman Hirdya Narain Dixit claimed that the ‘chakka jam’ was a big success all over the State as highways and main roads were blocked and the Kashi Vishwanath Express was stopped in Moradabad by the party workers.
{{/usCountry}}Talking to reporters, state party spokesman Hirdya Narain Dixit claimed that the ‘chakka jam’ was a big success all over the State as highways and main roads were blocked and the Kashi Vishwanath Express was stopped in Moradabad by the party workers.
{{/usCountry}}He, however, admitted that the show was not as impressive as it should have been in the state capital. Dixit informed that that the BJP would continue its statewide agitation.