DEHRADUN: Normal life was paralyzed across Uttarakhand on Thursday in response to the day-long Bharat Bandh called by BJP and other opposition parties to protest the Centre’s move decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, cap on LPG subsidy and hike in diesel price.
All shops, business establishments, schools, colleges and other private educational institutions remained closed in Dehradun, Haldwani, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Almora and Pithoragarh.
Commercial vehicles were off the roads while government transport services like Uttarakhand Transport Services avoided plying their buses fearing attacks from pro-bandh supporters.
Protestors burnt effigies of PM Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union ministers to oppose the government’s move in Dehradun, Haldwani, Kotdwar and Udham Singh Nagar towns.
In Haldwani and Almora, angry protestors forcibly closed several shops and institutions.
“By allowing 51% FDI in multi retail sector, the UPA government wants to finish all shopkeepers and domestic markets of retail,” said Dehradun Vyapar Mandal president Vipin Nagalia.
“We will not be able to survive at any cost once FDI is implemented in India,” said businessman Roop Chand.
BJP leader and former CM B C Khanduri described the bandh as total in Uttarakhand. “The way bandh evoked complete response throughout the state indicated widespread resentment among aam Admi against policies of the central government,” he said.
Chief secretary Alok Kumar Jain said the bandh passed off peacefully without any untoward incident. “Although forces were deployed in strengthen at different trouble-prone towns, we did not require to use force,” he said.
Src: TOI