The Bharat bandh called by opposition has evoked mixed response. The call for the bandh has been given in protest against Centre's decision on diesel price hike and allowing FDI in multi brand retail. While, protestors disrupted rail and road traffic in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha. Bandh had little impact in Mumbai.
In the national capital Delhi, most of the markets are closed but vehicular movement is normal though protesters blocked traffic at some places. A protest rally in support of bandh was addressed by NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav and BJP President Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi.
Shops and business establishments are closed and train services were affected in Uttar Pradesh West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan.
In Andhra Pradesh, opposition stalled proceedings in the House demanding discussion on roll back of diesel prices.
AIR correspondent reports that the bandh has evoked little response in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra.
Reports of bandh affecting normal life have also come in ffrom Punjab, Odisha, Assam and some other states of the country.
In the meantime, Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mrs. Ambika Soni has said that bandh is not always the best form of protest.
The Supreme Court in 1998 upholding Kerala High Court ruling has declared forced bandhs illegal. The Apex Court went a step further in 2002 and declared all forced hartals illegal.
ghalaya.