Complete SHUTDOWN in Punjab,Himachal

The main markets,commercial establishments and malls remained closed in response to the bandh call,given by Left parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against rising inflation and price rise.

Though the bandh was peaceful,groups of BJP and CPI supporters were seen holding rallies,raising slogans against the Congress-led UPA government,and forcing traders to down their shutters at some places.

No violence was reported though some heated exchanges were witnessed between BJP activists and shopkeepers in small towns and local markets here.

The vegetable and fruit vendors had to bear the wrath of protestors as they were forced to remove their carts and vacate the roads.

The movement of buses and trucks was also disrupted affecting passengers and transportation of essential commodities. Some trains were also running late despite tight security.

In Punjab,the BJP had the backing of ruling partner Shiromani Akali Dal (B) but government offices remained open while schools are already closed for summer vacation.

Streets were more or less deserted during the day in Gurdaspur,Batala,Dera Baba Nanak,Pathankot,Tarn Taran,Patti,Beas and Ajnala.

SAD (Delhi) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna issued a statement saying the bandh was ‘forced upon people’.

“Opposition parties resorted to forcible closures which is uncalled for. Instead of shutting business,trade and normal work,the protestors could have just worn black badges to show their resentment,” he said.

BJP leader Tarun Chugh and CPI leader Vijay Sharma held separate rallies and termed the bandh a ‘total success’.

A peaceful bandh was observed in the Doaba region in response to the call given by the Opposition against skyrocketing prices in the country.

While almost all commercial establishments complied with the strike,bus services were also hit on National Highway-1. After holding a meeting in their respective areas,protestors poured onto the streets around 8 am and took rounds of the main markets of the city. Traders who had opened their shops were asked to remain shut for the day. There was nominal presence of security forces in the city and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the region. No complaints of traffic diversion were received and banks and schools functioned as usual. In Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur too,the bandh was total but peaceful.