Bharat bandh stops India, Mumbai worst-hit

New Delhi: The Bharat bandh called by the Opposition to protest against rising prices has put the country on hold. Transport has been hit across states. States ruled by the NDA and the Left are the most affected.

But Mumbai, ruled by the Congress, is also one of the worst hit with normal life disrupted. Security is tight in the city.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Left parties, which have called for the nationwide bandh, say they are taking the aam admi's protest to the streets. It is another matter that the aam aadmi is bearing the brunt of Monday's bandh.

The Opposition parties have cited inflation in double figures, cost of essentials and the sharp rise in fuel prices since the government deregulated oil prices. (Forum: Is shutting India down the solution)

The Left wants the fuel price hike to be rolled back. The BJP has said it there was a World Cup to be won for price hikes, the Congress would be champion. (Bharat bandh in pictures)

Central leaders of the NDA, Nitin Gadkari, Sharad Yadav and Rajnath Singh have courted arrest in Delhi after addressing a rally. Other senior leaders have courted arrest across states. Gadkari was released soon after his arrest. (Read: List of leaders arrested)

Leaders of the Left, like Brinda Karat and AB Bardhan, and others like Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP too have courted arrest. In Lucknow, Chief Minister Mayawati, who is not supporting the bandh, came down heavily on protesters, using water cannons on Samajwadi Party protesters led by Akhilesh Yadav and lathicharging BJP protesters.

Maharashtra

In Mumbai, schools and colleges remained closed today; the streets of the city were deserted. (Read and Watch: Streets deserted, flights hit in Mumbai)

Domestic flights were hit hard: 42 arrivals and 47 departures were cancelled. One international flight -Air India's Mumbai-Delhi-Hong Kong- was cancelled. 

Local trains are running on time, but are largely empty.

78 buses have been damaged. Taxis and autos are not available for commuters.

Over 1000 people were held as preventive measure in Mumbai. The city's police have said any person or political party indulging in violence and vandalising public property will be made to pay compensation, and about 40,000 policemen have been deployed to maintain law and order.

West Bengal

If you are flying in and out of Kolkata, bad news - private airlines won't be operating as they don't want to take any chances. Air India is operating all flights till noon. Morning flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati and Aizwal have all taken off, but flights to Delhi in the afternoon are being rescheduled for take-off after 6 pm. International flights to Yangon and Kathmandu will depart, as scheduled, in the afternoon. (Read and watch: Private airlines cancel flights till 6 pm)

There have been demonstrations at 16 stations and the Eastern Railways has suspended suburban and long distance trains. Some long distance trains coming into Howrah have been stuck just short of the station since early morning. (Read: Railways help stranded passengers in Kolkata)

New Delhi

Metro services have been blocked at the Karol Bagh Metro Station. Around 100 BJP workers have also blocked the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station in Connaught Place. (Read: BJP targets Metro stations in Delhi | Watch: Eyewitness video)

BJP workers also tried to stop trains at Shakur Basti and Mundka, although train services at the New Delhi Railway Station are normal. (Read: Road, rail services blocked)

The Anand Vihar Bus Terminus has also been blocked by protesters.

Flight services are running on schedule at the Indira Gandhi Airport.

BJP leader Vijay Jolly has also been detained along with other protesters from the BRT corridor in South Delhi.

Bihar

The Jehanabad-Islampur Express and nine other express and mail trains have been blocked by protesters. Bihar is ruled by the JD(U)-BJP, and party workers are all out to ensure the bandh is a success.

The Rajgir-Danapur Express has been detained at Karahdhi. About 100 agitators have stalled the Jehanabad-Islampur Express at Rajendranagar since about 5.25 am.

As office hours began, BJP workers began forcing vehicles and bikers off the roads. Woman workers of the BJP have blocked traffic and tyres are being burnt in front of Patna University. (Read: Tyres burned, BJP leaders arrested)

BJP leaders like Ravi Shankar Prasad and CP Thakur courted arrest.

Kerala

All schools and most business establishments are closed. Private vehicles, buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws are off the roads. Passengers are stranded at railway stations.

However, protesters are allowing two-wheelers to ply. And emergency and hospital services have been exempted from the bandh.

The ruling Left combine and the BJP have planned protest marches in all district headquarters.

Andhra Pradesh

The nationwide bandh has hit bus services in district towns of Andhra Pradesh. 1200 buses have been disrupted, while four buses have been vandalised. Road Transport Corporation buses are plying in Hyderabad. The Telugu Desam is supporting the bandh here.

President Pratibha Patil is attending a programme in Hyderabad near the state Assembly, and the area has been sanitised to ensure that her movement is not affected by the bandh.

TDP leaders took to the streets and courted arrest. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu also courted arrest in Hyderabad and said the Centre must roll back the fuel price hike or else they will intensify the protests. (Read: Chandrababu Naidu arrested) 

Gujarat

Private buses and autos are staying off the roads. 5000 policemen have been deployed to maintain peace and 40,000 trucks are off the roads. (Read: 40,000 trucks off roads)

Uttar Pradesh

In Lucknow, BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Muqtar Abbas Naqvi have courted arrest after a lathicharge on party workers outside the party's office.

There were reports of a lathicharge on Samajwadi Party workers outside their party office too as the Mayawati government came down heavily on protesters. Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party is not supporting the bandh. (Read: Jaitley arrested; Mayawati strikes back)

Water cannons were used against Samajwadi Party leaders and workers, led in their protest by Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh Yadav. SP workers were lathicharged outside their office. 

Tamil Nadu

Buses from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, which is ruled by the Left and to Karnataka, ruled by the BJP, have been stopped.

Flights from Chennai to Kolkata, Mangalore and Cochin have also been cancelled.


Also See: Opposition to fuel price hike 'illogical', says Montek
Action stops in Bollywood