Bharat Bandh: Mayawati Blames Both BJP, Cong for Fuel Price Hike

BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday, 11 September, blamed both BJP and Congress equally responsible for fuel price hike. Mayawati’s comments come just a day after her party’s dismal show in the Bharat Bandh called by a united Opposition against rising fuel prices in the country.

On Monday, Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala and senior Congress leader addressed the media over rising fuel prices, saying the people of India are being cheated. He said that the government has increased the excise and custom duty on petrol and diesel by 212 percent and over 400 percent respectively.

Earlier the same day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi led the protest march in Delhi against rising fuel prices.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also joined the protest. Top Opposition leaders including Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav, Manoj Jha, Somnath Bharti, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Manoj Sharma were also present.

Opposition parties in Bihar on Sunday, resolved to make Sunday's Bharat bandh, called by the Congress in protest against the rising fuel prices, a "grand success".

Opposition leaders from Congress, RJD, HAM(S), Samajwadi Party, NCP held a joint press conference at Sadaquat Ashram here – the Congress' state headquarter – and appealed to the various trade and industry bodies to make the bandh a grand success.

Prominent leaders who addressed the joint press conference included Bihar Congress acting president Kaukab Qadri, senior Congress leaders Sadanand Singh, M M Jha, RJD Bihar chief Ram Chandra Purbey, HAM(S) state chief Vrishin Patel, Samajwadi Party Bihar unit chief and former union minister Devendra Prasad Yadav.

The Shiv Sena Sunday spurned Congress' request to participate in the Bharat bandh called on Monday by the latter against rising prices of fuel.

Speaking to reporters, Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan said he had made the request to Sena.

"It is not just the Congress but NCP, MNS, Samajwadi Party and others too are supporting the bandh," he said at the press conference.

Claiming the Centre was not doing enough to bring down the prices of petrol or diesel, a senior Congress leader on Sunday appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to support the nation-wide strike call given by his party over rising fuel prices in the country.

"We appeal to all concerned citizens and organisations to observe a voluntary bandh (strike) from 9 am to 3 pm tomorrow to protest against the unprecedented hike on petrol, diesel, domestic gas and other essential commodities,” AICC secretary co-incharge Jammu and Kashmir affairs Shakeel Ahmad Khan told reporters.

The West Bengal government has taken a slew of measures to maintain normal life and foil the Bharat bandh called by the Opposition Congress and Left parties in the state on Monday.

While the Congress has called the bandh for six hours from 9.00 am, the CPI(M)-led Left Front has called a 12-hour bandh starting from 6.00 am.

Additional police personnel would be deployed throughout the state to ensure that there was no disruption or violence in connection with the bandh call.

Madhya Pradesh Congress on Sunday urged people to make the Bharat bandh a successful one even as an association of fuel pump owners in the state said that their establishments would remain open.

Congress leaders here said that 21 Opposition parties as well as several chambers of commerce and traders' bodies were backing its shutdown call.

UP Congress chief Raj Babbar slammed the BJP on Sunday for not discussing fuel prices in the party’s National Executive Meet.

"It is very unfortunate that in the national executive meeting of the BJP, discussions were held only on elections and how they could be won using management. No discussions were held on plight of the people who are facing surging prices of petrol, diesel and LPG. This shows the anti-people mindset of the BJP," he said.

Karnataka government declared public holiday on Monday for schools and colleges in Bengaluru as a precautionary measure ahead of Bharat Bandh.

Mumbai Police served notice under section 149 to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers in Mumbai, states, if any law and order situation arises in Monday’s Bharat Bandh they will be held responsible.

The Karnataka government declared a public holiday on Monday, 10 September, for schools and colleges in Bengaluru as a precautionary measure ahead of Bharat Bandh called by the Congress party.

Congress workers blocked a train in Odisha’s Sambalpur as Bharat Bandh has been called by Congress and other opposition parties today over fuel price hike.

CPI(M) workers held protests in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam against fuel price hike.

Bus services of North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) have been suspended in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh called by Congress and other Opposition parties against fuel price hike.

Party workers protested in Odisha's Bhubaneswar against fuel price hike.

Congress workers held protests in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district's Bhongir and Musheerabad bus depot in Hyderabad against fuel price hike.

Senior Congress leaders and party workers gather at Rajghat in Delhi to protest against rising fuel prices.

CPI and CPM workers in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada protested against fuel price hike in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh being called by Opposition parties.

Protesters in Gujarat's Bharuch burnt tyres and stopped traffic while protesting against rising fuel prices in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh called by Opposition parties.

Jan Adhikar Party Loktantrik workers blocked railway tracks in Patna's Rajendra Nagar Terminal railway station to support Bharat Bandh called by Congress and other opposition parties over fuel price hike.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi led the protest march in Delhi for the Bharat Bandh called by the party against fuel price hike.

State transport buses traveling out of Tamil Nadu to states like Kerala and Karnataka, have been stopped at the border and suspended in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh called by Opposition parties.

Security has been tightened in Jaipur in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh called by the Opposition.

"Precautionary measures have been taken. Police have been directed to take stringent actions against the protesters who restore to violence during protests," police told ANI.

Bengaluru Urban and Rural district administrations announced a holiday for universities, schools and colleges, with exams slated for September 10 also postponed.

Most transport unions have pledged their support for the Bandh call by the congress party with the Ola, Taxi for Sure, Uber drivers and owners association striking from 6am-6pm.

According to The Times of India, 15,000 police personnel have been deployed across the city to maintain peace.

Congress workers protested in Raipur against fuel price hike in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh called by the Opposition.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined top Opposition leaders on the dais to support the Bharat Bandh called by the Congress party against rising fuel prices.

Congress workers lead by former Maharashtra Chief Minister and leader Sanjay Nirupam staged ‘Rail Roko’ at Mumbai’s Andheri railway station. The protesters were detained by the police.

East Coast Railway Zone has cancelled 12 trains including Bhubaneswar-Howrah Jan Shatabdi Express and Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Inter City Express in backdrop of Bharat Bandh.

Security has been beefed up at metro stations across Bengaluru in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh called by the Opposition.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the protest rally in New Delhi against rising fuel prices in the country in the backdrop of the Bharat Bandh called by the Congress party.

“Modi government has done a number of things that were not in the interest of the nation. The time to change this government will come soon,” he said.

Jan Adhikar Party workers vandalise vehicles during Bharat Bandh protest in Patna against fuel price hike.

In parts of Thiruvarur, Pudukkottai and Mannargudi, over 5,000 shops have been shut, and plying of buses and autos has been suspended.

Fishermen in Kanyakumari have not gone out to sea today, in support of the Bharat Bandh, against the rising fuel prices.

Buses are plying as per usual in almost all parts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai. Over 20,000 police personnel have been deployed in Chennai to maintain law and order.

Markets, shops and restaurants in parts of Bengaluru remained closed in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh called by the Opposition.

MNS workers in Mumbai forcefully shut shops and establishments at Mumbai’s Bharatmata Junction Naka in Parel.

Fishermen and lorry owners in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin supported the Bharat Bandh called by the Opposition to protest against rising fuel prices. Shops to be shut until 6 pm today.

250 mechanised boats, 10,000 fishermen, 25,000 people who work in the fishing industry will be affected. The loss estimated is over Rs10 crore.

Lorry owners in Thoothukudi too are on strike. Over 2,000 lorries have stopped plying today, leading to a loss of 50 crores.

Offices, schools and colleges in the national capital opened at regular time despite the 'Bharat Bandh' called by the Congress to protest against the hike in petrol and diesel prices.

Heavy police deployment was made in the national capital with reserve police forces deployed and motorcycle patrols being put on high alert, a senior police officer said.

The officer said police personnel have been deployed at petrol pumps across Delhi to ensure no untoward incident takes place.

Congress workers vandalised a petrol pump in Ujjain in the backdrop of the Bharat Bandh called by the Opposition against rising fuel prices.

Jan Adhikar Party supporters vandalised vehicles during Bharat Bandh to protest against fuel price hike and depreciation of the rupee in Patna. The protesters also forcefully shut shops in the city.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi addressed the protest rally in New Delhi called to protest against rising fuel prices.

“Narendra Modi ji is silent, he has not spoken a word on rising prices of fuel, or condition of farmers, neither on atrocities against women,” said Gandhi.

Protesters burnt tyres in Guwahati to protest against rising fuel prices in the backdrop of Bharat Bandh.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the Opposition over the Bharat bandh protests and said that it does not have any strategy.

“A frustrated Opposition, which doesn't have strategy and leadership, what else can be expected from them? I hope God gives them sense so they can differentiate between positive and negative otherwise in future they will lose their position as Opposition as well,” he said.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the country did not pay heed to the Opposition’s call for a Bharat bandh.

“'Bharat’ will not be 'bandh', it will keep moving and progressing. No one is paying heed to this call by Congress, their 'Mahagatbandhan' balloon will also burst soon,” he said.

Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said that fuel prices were hiked in certain states on Monday despite the Opposition’s call for a bandh against it.

“The BJP government is so proud of itself that even today when the Opposition has called for a bandh, they have increased fuel price in some places. Government can even say that inflation will bring development,” he said.

Congress party workers gathered at Bengaluru's Mysore bank circle, protesting against the hike in fuel prices in the backdrop of the Bharat bandh called by the party.

Mohammad Nalapad, who is currently on bail on charges of assaulting a man in a city cafe, was spotted addressing party workers along with his father MLA NA Haris, at Congress party's protest against fuel prices hike in Bengaluru.

Congress workers led by Ajay Maken carried a motorcycle on a bullock cart as a sign of protest during the Bharat bandh agitation in Delhi's Preet Vihar.

A two-year-old child in Bihar’s Jehanabad died while on her way to the civil hospital. Allegedly, the family wasn’t able to reach the hospital on time due to Bharat bandh, CNN-News18 reported.

Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja with AAP leader Atishi during Bharat bandh protested in Delhi against rising fuel prices.

Congress leader and 1984 riots accused, Sajjan Kumar, joined Bharat bandh protest in Delhi.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad addressed the media, slamming the Bharat bandh protests called by the Opposition.

“Everyone has a right to protest but what is happening today? Petrol pumps and buses being set ablaze, putting lives at risk. A child died after an ambulance was stuck in the protests in Bihar's Jehanabad. Who is responsible?” said Prasad.

BJP’s Subramaniam Swamy said that the fuel prices in the country should not be so high that the people rise in revolt against them.

“’When crude oil price rises, the price of fuel must be raised' is microeconomics, and I am not in favour of microeconomics as it involves only two persons (buyer and seller). But here the whole economy is involved, so it is macroeconomics,” said Swamy.

“I feel that the macroeconomic price for petrol is Rs 40 and somehow the PM must ask the Petroleum Minister to think as a part of Economic Affairs Ministry and not as a Petroleum minister and stop setting prices so high that people can go to the point of revolt,” Swamy added.

Fifty-eight Congress activists, including Palamau district Congress president Jaias Ranjan Pathak, were taken into custody for forcibly trying to enforce the bandh, Superintendent of Police Inderjeet Mahata said.

The 'Bharat Bandh' call by several opposition parties over rising petrol and diesel prices on Monday evoked a mixed response in Telangana as it was business as usual in many parts of the state, including the capital city.

No untoward incidents have been reported so far, police said.

The police took scores of leaders and workers of the Congress, Left parties and Telugu Desam Party into custody when they held protests near State Road Transport Corporation depots, preventing busses from plying on roads.

Normal life was hit in BJP-ruled Assam on Monday by Congress’ six-hour ‘Bharat Bandh’ to protest “rising fuel prices, inflation and a weakening of rupee”.

Congress workers attempted to stop trains from running by squatting on the railway tracks, and tried to block national highways and main roads across the state by burning tyres and setting up bamboo barricades, police said.

In Guwahati, Assam Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora along with party in-charge for the state Harish Rawat led hundreds of sloganeering party workers during a rally this morning. The protestors tried to forcibly enter the state secretariat, officials said.

BJP chief Amit Shah meets petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi amid protests by the Opposition over rising fuel prices, India Today reported.

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu announces a reduction in petrol and diesel price by Rs 2 each, in the state. The new rates will be effective from Tuesday, 11 September, reported ANI.

Bus services in Davanagere, Chamarajnagar, Kolar, Kolar Gold Fields, Bengaluru, Shimoga and Tumkur have now resumed, reported ANI.

Addressing the media over the rising fuel prices in the country, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot and Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit out at the Modi government and said that the NDA government is cheating the people of this country.

Surjewala said that the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have remained quiet over the issue of rising fuel prices in the country while the people are suffering.

“BJP fielded two of its ministers today - Dharmendra Pradhan and Ravi Shankar Prasad - while the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have remained tight lipped. However, the two ministers said that the increase in the fuel pricing is due to crude oil prices, but this government is lying.”

Surjewala further said that when the UPA was in power, crude oil was trading at $107-a-barrel- and today the price is $73-a-barrel, but the prices of diesel and petrol are sky rocketing.

Speaking to ANI, IG Law and Order, Madhya Pradesh, Makrand Deuskar, said, “The Bharat Bandh was peaceful in the state, 110-115 people have been arrested. The numbers can rise. In Ujjain, Katni and Jabalpur there had been some incidents for which cases have been registered.”

The Congress' Bharat bandh to protest skyrocketing fuel prices affected normal life in Puducherry with many people stranded at bus stands as public vehicles remained off roads, while stones were thrown a Tamil Nadu government-owned express bus and a private college vehicle.

Retail petrol and diesel outlets, all shops and commercial establishments remained closed in the Union territory while police personnel were deployed in strength at various points.

According to police no one was injured in the attack on the vehicles and 13 people were held in connection with the incidents at two different placed.

(Source: PTI)

Defending the rising fuel prices, Rajasthan Minister Rajkumar Rinwa said that the increase in the prices is due to the global crude oil prices.

He further hit out at the public and said that the public doesn’t understand and should reduce consumption to fight inflation.

Congress Minister Sachin Pilot hit back at Rinwa saying that such remarks reek of arrogance and insensitivity to people.

“When people are suffering, they are making it worse by such outlandish statements,” Pilot added.

• Mumbai: 608 people were detained and released subsequently. 6 people were arrested, 8 cases were registered at various police stations. No serious incidents have been reported.
• Delhi: Normal life remained unaffected in Delhi with offices, schools and colleges opening at their regular time and vehicles plying on roads despite a 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the Congress.
• Tamil Nadu: Normal life largely remained unaffected as the public transport operated smoothly.
• Puducherry: Many people stranded at bus stands as public vehicles remained off roads, while stones were thrown at a Tamil Nadu government-owned express bus and a private college vehicle. All private inter-state and intra-state buses remained off roads.
• West Bengal: Almost all schools and colleges were open with the scheduled examinations underway and the office-goers were seen rushing to office. Train services were also normal.
• Karnataka: Normal life was thrown out of gear in Karnataka with the roads in the city wore a deserted look since morning as government buses, private taxis and most of the autorickshaws did not ply. Business establishments, shops, malls, certain private enterprises remained closed.
• Telangana: AICC Secretary Srinivasan Krishnan and 40 others were taken into preventive custody in Karimnagar town after they staged a dharna in front of RTC bus station in Dharmapuri in Karimnagar district, PTI reported. RTC buses were seen plying in minimal numbers.
• Kerala: The bandh hit normal life in Kerala. Both public and private transport buses and autorickshaws kept off the roads across the state in response to the strike which began at 6 am. Shops and commercial establishments remained closed in majority of districts.
• Uttar Pradesh: Amidst heavy security by the state government, most commercial establishments operated as usual. Offices, schools and colleges operated as per the regular schedule and vehicular traffic moved as usual in main towns of the state.
• Assam: Congress workers attempted to stop movement of trains by squatting on the railway tracks and tried to block national highways and main roads across the state by burning tyres and setting up bamboo barricades. The bandh affected transport facilities in the state as private long distance and city buses kept off the roads. School, college students as well as officer-goers using public transport faced difficulty due to non-availability of transport facilities.
• Odisha: Train services were disrupted in many places of Odisha. Vehicular movement also came to a grinding halt in many places. Commuters were stranded in many places as buses, taxis and autorickshaws stayed off the roads due to the bandh.
• Bihar: Arson, vandalism and disruption of rail and road traffic were reported from various parts of Bihar. In the state capital, bandh supporters indulged in vandalism in the old Patna city area where they also placed burning tyres on railway tracks, disrupting movement of trains. Private schools and a sizeable number of shopping establishments remained closed, fearing nuisance during the six-hour-long bandh.
• Mizoram: The shutdown had no impact.

A human rights activist in Assam has filed a police complaint against Congress President Rahul Gandhi, alleging harassment of common people in the state owing to a bandh sponsored by his party, reported PTI quoting sources.

Raju Mahanta, the president of NGO Sahai, said even patients on their way to hospital faced obstructions on the road due to the bandh, Mahanta, whose NGO works for the rights of destitute, elderly people and underprivileged children, said in his complaint.

The Shiv Sena on Monday said the Congress' Bharat bandh failed to generate desired impact in Maharashtra because the Uddhav Thackeray-led party was not "consulted" over the protest.

Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar (Shiv Sena) said the bandh was observed only in half of Maharashtra.

Senior Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Monday, too said the bandh would have generated better impact had the Congress consulted his party in advance.

The BJP on Monday claimed that the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the Congress was to divert the people's attention from the hearing in the Delhi High Court on a matter related to the National Herald case involving its "corrupt" leaders.

"The people whose conscience was locked somewhere, those who were thick involved in corruption, the same people had deliberately called for the Bharat Bandh because they knew the National Herald case was on and the verdict was expected today," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters.

BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday blamed both BJP and Congress as equally responsible for fuel price hike. Mayawati’s comments come just a day after her party’s dismal show in the Bharat Bandh called by a united Opposition against rising fuel prices in the country.

“Our party holds BJP and Congress equally responsible for rising fuel prices in the country,” said Mayawati as quoted by ANI.