Trade bandh is proving to be a great success: BJP

Bhartiya Janata Party,which called a nationwide bandh to protest against government's decision to allow foreign direct investment in the retail sector, has claimed overwhelming response from 10,000 retailers and the people in general in Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Kolkata, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other parts of India.

"The bandh called by the party is proving to be a great success. We would get a better picture of the response by afternoon. We have no doubt about the response of the people.

The government must withdraw its decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in the retail sector. Big players like Wal-Mart will kill the Indian retail sector," Prakash Javadekar, member of BJP in Rajya Sabha told rediff.com on Thursday.

Almost all the opposition parties have extended their support to the bandh called by BJP and have demanded rolling

back of the decision of allowing FDI in retail sector.

While Janata Dal workers will hold dharnas and morchas under the leadership of Sharad Yadav, in Bihar the protest march will be led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who said that even if FDI in retail sector is allowed, he will not implement it in Bihar.

"We have extended our support to the nationwide bandh called by the BJP but we are not joining it. Those who want to join it are welcome to do so. Government will have to withdraw its decision," D Raja of Communist Party of India said.

Over 40 lakh (4 million) persons would be affected if foreign retail chains are allowed to set up business in India.

In Delhi shops in major markets are closed. Shopkeepers in Karol Bagh, Shakti Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar took out demonstrations against foreign retail chains.

Senior leaders of the BJP will address meetings at various places.

A senior official of Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit's government said that arrangements have been made to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the capital.