What India thought about the Bharat bandh

Even as the Opposition went hammer and tongs to enforce the nationwide strike call against the petrol price hike on Thursday, the common man seemed to be backing off from joining the protest.

We had asked our readers if they supported the call for Bharat Bandh. Here are some of their responses. If you have something to say about the bandh, post your comments here

@ Radhakrishnan: Obviously bandhs are not the solution. But look at the lethargy of the Government to work on alternate energy! Two days back, came the news of Germany's achieving more than 22GW power per hour using Solar power.

IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh! 

What has been done in our country with abundance of Solar power? On the other hand, we are not even forcing the mobile phone companies to consume tonnes of Diesel to supply power for their needs! How can we make them act?

@ girish jahagirdar: Bandh is a not at all a solution, NDA, BJP, SP and Trinmul should resolve this through meetings and dialog with UPA and not by Instigating Indian Public especially BJP are forcibly claiming that public is with them that is not so, All opposition parties, BJP are making this as a election stunt, though they are knowing the International facts and situations, there is no point in damaging public property, using bad words towards PM and blame game on each other.

In Bandh and violence it clearly shows that BJP, NDA and Trinamul DMK SP are not polished and Ethical parties to lead the Democratic country like India if power is given in their hands .These are violent parties, and irresponsible parties.

@ranchivoice: It is very is take make fool to Indians. Any bandh call by any party it very easy to make fool to all indians. Heavy looses; not in the sense of Rs but in the sense that common ppl who are daily wage suffers badly.

Ppl who earns daily get affected. Suppose today is bharat bandh what will happen not going to happen , will petrol price down ,no it will not. From tomorrow life will normal. ppl will forgot ,Petrol price will never come down. But one day bandh affect crores of commen ppl. So we can say bandh is totally bakwas.

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Pareekshit kapoor: Why are all the parties that are calling bandhs not reducing taxes on petrol when their share of tax increases after the price hike? Has the centre and states not thrown the ball in each others court the price hike had not been so massive?

@Akash Doshi: Dear Politicians (my so-called leaders),

I dont have a problem with petrol rise and with paying 30% income tax along with various service tax and vat - if my income increases relatively, if public and health services improve, if education system improve, if poverty and malnutrition reduces in my country, if my country's military gets well equipped, if science and research gets a boost in my country - I seriously don't have a problem.

BUT if nothing above happens and only thing that happen is you getting reacher in multiples by day and by night -- I have a problem with paying more for petrol or for that matter even paying tax.

@janmohan: Look at mahatma gandhi and anna, how they protest.why cant politicians sit in fast,dharan ,non cooperation,march to parliament or assemblies.why they disturb daily routine, damage public property, burn tyres and pollute air.this is shame democracy.will politicians answer.

Will it reduce price of petrol? Why cant political parties reduce taxes which is 60% of price to show their right concern for people. It is a drama to fool us Indians, isn't it?

@C Datta: Main aim of present day bandh and general strike is to cause maximum possible inconvinience to common people and to damage/destroy property. Goondas and anti socials are let loose by political parties to make bandh successful. I am sure there are other peaceful and non-destructive means available to register one's protest. Stop this goonda raj organised by politicians and ban such bandhs.

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Abbas Ujjainwala: If SHIV SENA & BJP are So serious for Common PPL & Specail for Maharashtra why they are not removing OCTORI from Maharshat the Effect of Petrol Hike will reduce in itself.

@Ravi: India needs to lesson its dependence on Petrol, this comodity only 10% india produce rest 90% comes from gulf and other countries which totally depend on market rate and then transporation rates and other charges make it dearer of the common man to fill his or her vehicle tank.

@arunabh mitter: Today's Bandh is nothing but a day's Economic paralysis in response to Political and Policy paralysis. However, in the whole game the suffer continues to be the common man, caught between the devil and the deep sea, an apathetic government and a toothless opposition. Hail Demo(n)cracy!

@t n narayanan narayan: Political Parties are showing one upmanship in organising Bandhs. Common man is not interested. Sheer waste of resources.

@Anurag Agarwal: Stuck in halted trains, vehicles burnt, harassed so called "common man". Who is a bigger Goon...Govt. or Oppn?

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Save Tiger: Congress is mismanaging almost everything and getting away with by bullying others with help of media. They do not have anyone present in parliament to answer these questions.

What options they have left with opposition to register their protest, can any one enlighten? If BJP doesn't even do that the same people will be name calling BJP for not doing enough as opposition party.

@balan: For the petrol to cost cheaper, the custom duty and local sales tax has to be brought down. The BJP government in Goa when it came to power last month, the first step the CM took was to reduce the VAT on petrol and the consumers were benefitted by Rs.11.45 per ltr.

Why can't the other States follow this principle. To make good the VAT loss on this, let them increase the VAT on liquor, gutka, tobacco and cigarettes. Petrol is costliest in Karnataka with Rs.81.10 per ltr and other private companies like Reliance and Shell charge Rs.3.00 more per ltr which will come to Rs.84.50. The local tax on Petrol in Karnataka is 24.5%.

I don't understand why dont people take to streets on Sundays asking the government to bring down the local tax on petrol instead crying foul on the increase by the Centre.

@Parminder Dhawan: Bandhs are only for politicians to know "KISKA PALRA BHARI HAI". AAM NAGRIK don't get anything out of it. Unfortunate.

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Vijay sharma: It is a general tradition in India, Opposition political parties whosoever protest against the decision of the govt either it is wrong or right. Some states are governed by the opposition parties, what action they are taking to control the price of the petrolium product.

They are charging VAT more than excise duty why not they charge maximum 4% to help the common man if they are really intrested to help the poor. The national loss should be covered from the political parties who gaves the call of Bandh time to time.

@deba das: Tomorrow you all will get good news...petrol price down by Rs.2. All parties happy. BJP will say it is their achievement, Ruling parties will get as desired Rs 5 ultimate increase. Then all party meeting at some 5 star hotel and celebrate AAM AADMI's foolishness.

@vivek katarki: Why can't govt once and for all lift the subsidy and align price of petroleum products with global markets. It can be more transparent.

@chittoor narayanan: The daily wage earning masses are the most affected by these bandhs.But who cares for them? Shiva Sena BEST committee hiked bus fares by 50 % in Mumbai. Was there any protest? We, Indians are in a downward spiral in everything except Bandhs. Long live DEMOCRACY!!!

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Sudhir gautam: Gone are the days when political parties could use Bandh as means to show their muscles. Media awareness and Court intervention has put lid on the act of intimidation and bullying by these political parties.

Actually Bandhs, strikes are sheer waste of national resources and rightly people have never supported the Bandhs. Even earlier it used to be the fear, violence, damage which used to make people stay at home. Thankfully the media and courts have ensured that there is no intimidation and political parties abetting violence have been heavily fined.

@sandeep jain: Nothing will happen with a one day bandh . So Please go for a indefinite band for a future change.

@Uma Srinivasan: The high court ruled that bandhs are illegal. Yet parties call for bandh, forcibly make people stay away from work & get away with impunity. Does the Chief Justice (or any other judge for that matter) have the guts to imprison the party chiefs? Of course now judges are all on vacation!!!!!

@Rajesh C: 1. Make petrol 100/ per litre. No loose change problem, etc. 2. No more increase for next year. 3. Upfront 1 week bandh.

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Arungopal agarwal: Total disobedience is required against govt. for highest taxes on Petrol/Diesel etc; Govt. must cut its expenditure on permanant liability of man power related cost.

@pradeep das: We all r fed up with current govt. I am 55 and have never seen such a high level various corruption made by the Congress. This revolt even for 1 day is necessary.

@piyush sheth: If the Bandh is really to protest against petrol prices, why not keep all private vehicles off roads and only allow Public transport for a day. This way you don't inconvienience people and also encourage them to use public transport which is the correct way to curtail petrol use.

@VENUGOPAL: When I welcome the decision of BJP Govt. in Goa to reduce the petrol prices to Rs 54, I was surprised the decision of BJP-Shiv Sena led BMC to hike the Bus fare exorbitantly and there is no protest from anyone. The exorbitant hike is unjustified.

Thank God, the Railways have not increased their fare, even though it is long due. Protest by the so called Opposition is an eye wash. Atleast the opposition led State govt. and Municipal Corporation follow the decision taken by Goa Chief Minister.

@Gautaman T: Like a poster says, "Put the politicians on minimum wages and see how fast things change". Better than bandhs.

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