Good response to nation-wide bandh in state

The nation-wide bandh called by National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday evoked good response in BJP-ruled Gujarat and remained largely remained peaceful, except for a few sporadic incidents in Surat, Rajkot and Ahmedabad.

The bandh against recent hike in petrol prices by the UPA government, however, disrupted daily life in major cities of the state. Autorickshaw drivers across the state also joined the shutdown, causing problems for the commuters. Public buses in Ahmedabad including those of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) where pulled off the road after stone pelting by protestors in some areas.

In Ahmedabad, many shop owners and shopping complexes downed the shutters, while some were forced to close by BJP workers. This included small shopkeepers like local pan and tea stall owners. State and central government offices also witnesses low attendance. However, most offices of private businesses establishments remained open and functioned as usual.

In Surat the textile and the diamond markets extended full support to the bandh and downed their shutters. There were also an attempt to disrupt rail traffic by the Surat BJP worker at the railway station. In Rajkot, the shutdown evoked better response than Ahmedabad and Surat. The markets were totally closed as a mark of protest against the petrol price hike. Across the state there were several sit-in protests, demonstrations and slogan shouting against the UPA government over the steep hike in petrol prices.