Bharat Bandh Today: Two BEST Buses Attacked, Most Petrol Pumps Shut in Mumbai and Thane

Mumbai, September 10: Even as the Congress led Opposition has called for a Bharat Bandh over the rising prices of petrol and diesel across India, trains, buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are plying as normal in Mumbai. According to media reports, most of the petrol pump owners in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai have decided to keep the petrol pumps closed as a precautionary measure. The Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Sunday declared its support to the bandh.

According to a report in the Times of India, stones were pelted at two BEST buses near Vashi Naka and at Praktisha Nagar Bus depot. Though the window panes of the buses were damaged, no injuries were reported in the incident said the report. Bharat Bandh Today, Live News Updates: 12 Trains, Including Bhubaneswar-Howrah Jan Shatabdi Express and Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Express, Cancelled Due to Shutdown.

Though the petrol pump owners have announced that they will not be supporting the bandh and have called it a political protest, they have sought protection from the government in case any toward incident takes place. CCTV's have been installed at petrol pumps as part of the survelliance in the areas close to the petrol pumps. Bharat Bandh Today: Protests Held in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Odisha, See Pictures.

Auto rickshaws and taxis are plying as normal and have not participated in the bandh. But the auto rickshaw union have said that auto rickshaws will go off the roads in Mumbai if any auto rickshaw or taxi is damaged due to the protests. MNS participating in the bandh has raised fear among the petrol pump owners and auto rickshaw/taxi drivers. But MNS chief Raj Thackeray, in a Facebook post shared on Sunday, instructed the MNS workers to not cause inconvenience to the people.

Schools and colleges are also open on Monday and the school bus association has clarified that the school buses will be running as normal on Monday and have not announced their support to the bandh.

Bal Malkit Singh of the All India Motor Transport Congress was quoted saying by TOI that the union will decide on nationwide protest after the emergency meeting which is going to be held on September 21. Petrol price continued to grow in Mumbai and touched Rs 88.12 per litre, while that of diesel reached 77.32 per litre on Monday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2018 10:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).