Bhartiya Janata Party, Left and Samajwadi Party have decided to protest against the steep hike in the prices of petrol and would hold countrywide demonstrations, dharnas and court arrest to register their anger against the move during Thursday's Bharat bandh.
"The members of parliament and the state legislators have been asked to go to their respective constituencies and lead their electorate against the steepest hike in history. The counrtywide protests will be held on May 31. At the moment no joint rally is being planned," BJP spokesperson Rajeev Pratap Rudy told
rediff.com.
"There is a sharp hike in the petrol prices but it does not mean that just because the BJP is protesting we should keep quite. This is a nation wide bandh called by four opposition parties and the National Democratic Alliance. So we have to register our protest," CPI general secretary D Raja told
rediff.com.
Samajvadi Party Rajya Sabha member Shahid Siddqui said that the United Progressive Alliance government is indifferent to the feelings of the common man. "The government has lost connect with the masses. We will shut down the state on May 31," he told mediapersons.
Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta said that over 50,000 party workers will hold demonstrations at 100 intersections in the national capital and bring it to complete halt.
With the Delhi assembly in session, Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit would have to press the entire Delhi police to ensure smooth traffic flow so that its employees reach their offices and the state assembly proceedings go unhindered. Auto and taxi unions are likely to join the strike.