Near total bandh in Jammu, normal life affected BJP activists hold protest demonstrations

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, July 5: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Left sponsored Bharat Bandh - to protest hike in fuel prices – Monday evoked near total response in Jammu, winter capital of the state and its suburbs.

Although government offices and educational institutes were closed today on being holiday, the strike affected normal life due to the closure of shops and other business establishments at most of the places. Public transport was also off the road and several `peaceful’ protest demonstrations were held in the city to express resentment over the sky rocketing price hike.

The activists of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) took out a motorcycle and car rally from Dogra Chowk, which after passing through various bazaars of old Jammu city including Hari Market, Raghunath Bazar, Jain Bazar and Kachi Chowni, culminated at Maheshpura Chowk.

Led by State president Shemsher Singh, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ashok Khajuria, MLA Sukhnandan and Jugal Kishore the BJP activists were carrying party flags and banners.

Addressing the protestors, Ashok Khajuria said that the price hike in essential commodities including fuel has affected the general masses. He accused Congress of misleading general masses with `hollow slogans’ and `tall promises’ and said that the party has history of stabbing people from behind.

The ruling alliance, he said, was working under the control of captalists, hoarders and black-marketers and was only for their benefit that the prices of daily used items have increased many folds, during the last few years.

The BJP state president, Shamsher Singh Manhas, said today’s bandh all over the country was befitting reply to the policies and programmes of UPA government in the center and NC led coalition government in the state.

“The people have already been suffering due to the manifold increase in the prices of essential items and the recent decision of the UPA to hike the prices of petroleum products will further result in price hike”, he said.

Later in the afternoon, Shamsher Singh Manhas, accompanied by MLAs Shyam Choudhary and Prof. Gharu Ram also led a Tonga Rally at R.S. Pura.

The party leaders claimed that similar protest demonstrations were held at Vijaypur, Bari Brahmana, Rajouri, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Basohli, Billawar and Hiranagar.