Mixed response to BJP bandh in Bhopal division

Today's shutdown was part of the nationwide strike observed by BJP and Left parties on September 20. Bhopal division was excluded from the protest owing to the visit of Bhutan Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a function at Sanchi.

The shutdown was marked by protest rallies taken out by BJP workers. The party activists took out a "funeral procession" of a household gas cylinder symbolising the burden on common man by the Centre's decision to cut the annual subsidies. The party's women wing also participated in the protest.

The bandh was observed in Bhopal and Raisen districts of the division.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) General Secretary Anupam Agrawal said small traders will take to the streets if the Centre goes ahead with its "anti-people" decisions.

"People have supported the bandh on their own which indicates that they are fed up with the anti-people policies of the Congress-led UPA government," state unit BJP president Prabhat Jha said.

Transport was thrown out of gear due to the bandh with commercial establishments also downing their shutters in protest.

Office-goers in the state capital and in Raisen district faced hardships with private vehicles not plying on road.

Attendance at government offices, schools and financial institutions was thin. CBSE-affiliated private schools remained closed in view of the bandh.

The Left parties took out a rally to protest FDI in retail, hike in the diesel price and cutting LPG subsidy, from Kabadkhana to Itwara raising anti-government slogans.