The response to the Bharat Bandh call given by the Bharatiya Janata Party and other Opposition parties against rising prices was total in the state capital where shops, business establishments and private offices remained closed on Monday.
The bandh call by the ruling BJP received complete support — both in new Bhopal area as well as the Muslim-dominated areas of old Bhopal. For the first time, the bandh was total at Laxmi Talkies road in old city.
Residents here said that they had to support the bandh targeting rising prices. Another factor leading to the success of the bandh here was BJP’s decision to target the Centre on the issue of rising prices and also for its failure to address in totality the demands of the victims of the 1984 gas disaster.
According to information received from other parts of the state, the bandh was peaceful, barring stray incidents in Indore.
Addressing mediapersons at the state BJP headquarters here on Monday afternoon, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre lacks “compassion and action”.