No response to bandh call in Ludhiana

The call for a nationwide bandh against hike in fuel prices fell flat when all the markets were found open today. Residents did not respond to the call although they crib a lot regarding the repeated fuel prices hikes.

Even political leaders were not able to press upon the bandh call because the majority were busy campaigning for the Municipal Corporation (MC) elections in the city. Factories were found open and people hardly remembered about the bandh call.

SAD-BJP leaders, however, sent a memorandum to the President through DC Rahul Tiwari, seeking a roll-back in the fuel price hike. Most of the SAD MLAs of Ludhiana district were present on the occasion. From the BJP, only district unit President Parveen Bansal was present and the rest of the leaders were conspicuous by their absence.

The newly inducted SAD MLAs Simarjeet Singh Bains and his brother Balwinder Bains too were not seen in the DC's office, which shows that they have still not been accepted by the SAD leaders.

PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said that the UPA Government has implemented a fuel price hike for the 17th time, which is increasing inflation and affecting the common man a lot. The MLAs sought a roll-back in the fuel price hike.

It needs to be mentioned that although the petrol price hike is Rs 7.50 per litre. it amounts to Rs 8.10 in Punjab because of additional taxes. The leaders, however, were not speaking on the high taxes in the state.

SAD MLAs Ranjit Dhillon, Manpreet Ayali and former Minister Hira Singh Gabria were present on the occasion.

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