Need to strike out such farce

The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is fundamental. Assertion of formal rights by a mobilised populace is, indeed, the lifeblood of democracy, giving substance to form.

However, Monday's Bharat Bandh, which disrupted life, stopped work, created loss and damaged property, not so much articulated democratic rights as abused them. The dividing line is drawn by what motivates the protest, how it advances the collective cause.

The sham protest against higher petro-fuel prices serves populist expedience, not the public good. As if holding down retail fuel prices as global crude prices flare up would not cripple the oil companies, feed energy profligacy, hurt competitiveness, burden the exchequer, hike interest rates and depress growth! Enough of such farce.