Bharat Bandh in Nashik sees partial shut down

NASHIK (MAHARASHTRA): The ' Bharat Bandh' to protest UPA government's decision permitting 51 percent foreign direct investment ( FDI) in multi-brand retail and diesel price hike evoked a mixed response in Nashik city.

In several parts of the district, almost all commercial establishments, shops, petrol pumps, MSRTC buses - both city and long distance - functioned normally in major localities of the main road, MG Road, College Road, Central Bus Stand, Ravivar Peth, the police said.

The Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena did not participate in today's 'Bharat Bandh' during the ongoing 10-day Ganesh festival.

The Shiv Sena, however, gave moral support to the bandh, its district chief Vijay Karanjkar told reporters.

The BJP Nashik unit took out a morcha through the main streets protesting 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, hike in diesel price, in which city BJP president Laxman Savaji and BJP corporators participated.

The Left parties also supported the bandh and protested the UPA government's policies, CPM-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leader Shridhar Deshpande said.

Considering today's 'Bharat Bandh', attendance in schools schools and colleges was thin, while some schools declared a holiday.