Bharat Bandh on September 10: Congress Gets Support From DMK, NCP, RJD, JD(S), BJD Says Will Neither Support nor Oppose Protest
While the opposition parties including the DMK, NCP, RJD, JD(S) have supported the Bharat Bandh call, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has said it will not be a part of the nationwide protest.
New Delhi, Sep 9: The stage is set for a Bharat Bandh on September 10 as the Congress and Left parties have called for a nationwide strike against the Modi government over the recent hike in fuel prices. While the opposition parties including the DMK, NCP, RJD, JD(S) have supported the Bharat Bandh call, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has said it will not be a part of the nationwide protest.
Sasmit Patra, BJD spokesperson on Sunday said that the BJD has been fighting against the price rise of petrol and diesel prices in the country and it is not for the first time that the country has seen such hike in fuel price. Patra said the party is neither supporting nor opposing the Bharat Bandh.
Taking a jibe at the Congress, the BJD spokesperson added that the Congress which was sleeping for the last 4.5 years has suddenly woken up. "Why has it woken up now? To ensure safety and security of children all schools in the state will remain closed", Patra added.
The Congress has called for a Bharat Bandh on September 10 against the rising fuel prices. The Congress has also asked civil society groups and NGOs to join the nationwide protest. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the timing of the bandh is such that 'the common person is not inconvenienced'. Earlier this week, Surjewala claimed the prices of petrol and diesel have gone up by around 50 per cent while the excise duties on petrol and diesel have risen by 211 and 443 per cent, respectively, since 2014.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2018 03:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).