Bharat Bandh: Nationwide shutdown over rising fuel prices today

The Congress party has called for ‘Bharat Bandh’ - a nationwide shutdown on Monday against the skyrocketing fuel prices and unprecedented fall of the Indian rupee against the US dollar due to “disastrous” economic policies of the Narendra Modi-led central government.

Several Opposition parties, including the DMK in Tamil Nadu, the RJD in Bihar, the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the MNS in Maharashtra, the JD-S in Karnataka, the CPI-M in Kerala, have also extended their support to the Bharat bandh called by the Congress party.

However, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC in West Bengal and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra has decided to stay away from the bandh. The Congress party has also asked civil societies to participate in the bandh.

Meanwhile, the prices of petrol and diesel continued their upward march on Sunday as well. The increase pushed the petrol price in Delhi to Rs 80.50 per litre. Diesel rate touched its highest level of Rs 72.61 a litre. In Mumbai, the prices of petrol were 87.89 per litre with diesel touching a new all-time high at Rs 77.09 per litre.

Also Read | Vasundhara Raje's sop bonanza before elections, slashes vat on petrol, diesel

Bharat Bandh: Opposition parties in Bihar resolve to make 'Bharat bandh' a success

Opposition parties in Bihar on Sunday resolved to make tomorrow’s ‘Bharat Bandh’, called by the Congress in protest against spiralling fuel prices, a “grand success”.

Opposition leaders from Congress, RJD, HAM(S), Samajwadi Party, NCP held a joint press conference at Sadaquat Ashram here - the Congress’ state headquarter - and appealed to the various trade and industry bodies to make the bandh a grand success.

Bharat Bandh: SP to protest across UP on Monday over fuel prices

The Samajwadi Party will undertake a statewide demonstration on Monday to protest against the rising prices of petroleum products.

Also Read | Then and now: BJP leaders on fall of rupee

Senior SP leader Rajendra Chaudhary said on Sunday that on the directives of party president Akhilesh Yadav, party workers would be holding demonstrations at all the districts and tehsils in the state to highlight the plight of farmers, spiralling prices of petroleum products, inflation, poor law and order, rising corruption and atrocities on students and youngsters.

Bharat Bandh: Shiv Sena to stay out of stir, MNS to participate

The Shiv Sena Sunday spurned Congress’ request to participate in the Bharat Bandh called Monday by the latter against rising prices of petroleum products. Responding to the Congress’ request, Raut said Sena won’t participate in the bandh. “The opposition should show their unity. The Sena is looking at the bandh neutrally,” he said. However, Raj Thackeray-led MNS has announced that it was supporting the bandh. In a statement, Thackeray said MNS will not only back but also actively participate in the bandh.

Also Read | On rising fuel prices, Congress gives it back to BJP - ‘Bahut Hui Mahangai Ki Maar…’

Bharat Bandh: Madhya Pradesh fuel pumps to remain open

Madhya Pradesh Congress Sunday urged people to make the Bharat Bandh a successful one even as an association of fuel pump owners in the state said that their establishments would remain open. Madhya Pradesh Petrol Pump Owners Association president Ajay Singh said that fuel pumps would remain open Monday. “Petrol pumps across Madhya Pradesh will remain open and work normally on Monday,” Ajay Singh said.