Jammu: BJP and CPI(M) workers on Thursday held demonstrations in various districts of Jammu and Kashmir in support of nation-wide bandh called by NDA, left parties and SP to protest diesel price hike and FDI in multi-brand retail.
BJP workers burnt effigies of the UPA government in few districts of the state, police said.
Over 300 BJP workers, led by state president Shamsher Singh Manhas, took out rally in this city, raising anti-government slogans.
In Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir unit of CPI(M) led by state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami assembled in Pratap Park and took out a peaceful rally, police said. The bandh was near total in Jammu city and districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Kishtwar, Kathua, Samba and Vijaypur towns, while it was partial in other districts of Doda, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, police said.
The bandh is supported by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), Jammu Mukti Morcha, besides some social, religious, and transport organisations here. All business establishments and other commercial activities were closed in this city and traffic was off the roads.
Most of the private schools were closed and most of the government offices were hit by the shutdown as there was very thin attendance in offices, police said.
“However, there was no untoward incident report from anywhere in Jammu division,” police said. There was no response to the bandh call in the Valley. Transport, shops and other business establishments functioned normally.
Addressing a rally in Srinagar, CPI(M) leader Tarigami said, FDI in multi-brand retail trade will deprive millions of people across the country of their livelihood.
“The policies of the Congress-led UPA government are anti-poor. They are a burden on common man, who is affected by the price rise. The government should have taken initiatives to reduce inflation and control prices.”
“But on the contrary they announced the hike in Diesel and that too just after the Parliament session got over,” Tarigami said.
“On Thursday there is bandh and protests everywhere. Without Congress, every party, including the partners of UPA, are opposing the government. This is a mandate against UPA for these anti-people policies,” he said.
Hitting out at Omar Abdullah for welcoming FDI in retail, he said the chief minister was in hurry to show his support.
“Our CM, strangely, was in hurry to welcome the decision. He should have waited to get the pulse of the people first. The decision (to allow FDI) will impact trade, transport and agriculture in the state. It will hurt common man,” he said.
Talking to reporters in this city, BJP leader Manhas said, “The shutdown in Jammu region is complete.”
“There should be rollback in the price of diesel and also policy on LPG.
Congress-led UPA government has taken grossly anti-people steps which have hit the common people very badly.” JKNPP MLA Harshdev Singh said, “Congress government has failed on all fronts…they are ridden with corruption and scams.”
He called for rollback in the price of diesel and also new policy of LPG. (PTI)