The BJP-led NDA and Left parties are all set to enforce a 12-hour all-India bandh on Monday over the recent hike in fuel prices, which is likely to have its maximum impact in the states ruled by these parties, particularly Left-ruled West Bengal and Kerala.
The NDA and the Left issued separate calls for the bandh, and the latter said it was a coincidence it was on the same day. The NDA said Monday’s bandh is the beginning of a series of protests across the country in the run-up to the Monsoon Session of Parliament, starting July 26.
Political parties have said that essential services like hospitals, water and milk supply will not be disrupted. But the decision by 62 lakh truckers affiliated to the All India Motor Transport Congress to hold a strike on Monday, over the decontrol of petrol prices, might hit the movement of vegetables, milk and other essential items.
Services at petrol pumps, however, might not be affected as the Federation of All-India Petroleum Traders, representing 38,000 petrol pump owners nationwide, is not participating in the strike.
In New Delhi, schoolchildren and officegoers travelling by chartered buses may have a tough time as their association has decided not to ply around 2,000 buses. Roadblocks by BJP and Left workers at some places may also hit commuters.
The BSP has called a bandh on Tuesday, and the RJD-LJP combine have called a Bihar bandh on July 10.
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No rollback, says Pranab
Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Kolkata on Sunday that “there is no question of a rollback” of the hike in fuel prices. He also said the RBI’s increase in short-term lending and borrowing rates to contain double-digit inflation was “appropriate” and “welcome”.