Opposition parties in Maharashtra gear up for Thursday’s Bharat Bandh

MUMBAI: The main opposition parties in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena and BJP announced on Tuesday that they will ensure that Thursday’s ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the opposition in protest against petrol price hike is successful in Mumbai and Maharashtra.

“Shiv Sena and BJP will be out on the roads to ensure that people’s voice is heard by the Central Government”,said BJP state President Sudhir Mungantiwar at a press conference in Mumbai.

Shiv Sena and BJP held a joint press conference on Tuesday to announce their plans for Thursday. A nationwide protest has been called for on 31st May by the opposition parties to protest the steep increase in the price of petrol.

Mr.Mungantiwar said “We want this bandh to be peaceful but we will ensure that people are allowed to convey their feeling of utter disappointment with the way the central government is managing the economy. If the prices of petrol are much lower in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, why are we made to pay such high prices?”

Asked if transport services such as suburban trains and buses will be blocked, Mr. Mungantiwar said “We will not indulge in any violence but we are sure that people will stay home and there will be nobody to board these buses and trains. But essential services such as ambulances, milk and food supply vehicles will not be affected.”

Shiv Sena spokesperson Subhash Desai said “We will ensure a bandh on Thursday in typical Sena style. People are fed up with inflation. Not just petrol but prices of food and other essentials are going thru the roof. We will ensure that the government gets the message. We have appealed to all shops and businesses to stay shut on Thursday.”

Both Mr. Mungantiwar and Mr.Desai revealed that various leaders of these two parties have been given the responsibility to ensure that the ‘bandh’ is successful thru the day and shops and businesses will be allowed to open late in the evening.