Lucknow:
The bandh called by NDA, Left and Samajwadi Party (SP) to protest the petrol price hike by the Centre today evoked a good response in the initial hours in Uttar Pradesh with business establishments remaining closed in most parts of the state.
In the state capital, where the Assembly session is also underway, workers of BJP, Left and ruling SP held demonstrations to mark their protest against the hike.
BJP workers rode a bullock-cart in front of the party office to mark their protest against the petrol price hike.
"The SP has also given a call for bandh. We welcome it but the party (SP) should pressurise the Centre to reduce petrol rates and also VAT imposed by the state government to give relief to common man", BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.
The SP workers raising slogans against the UPA government took out a rally and urged traders not to open shops to make the bandh successful.
"We want the UPA government to roll back the price hike.
The state government is not in a position to reduce VAT on petrol. We will press for it," SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said.
The Left parties also took out a cycle march, and held road side plays to highlight the plight of the common man due to petrol price rise, CPI State Secretary Girish claimed.
In Firozabad, SP workers tried to stop the trains but the situation was timely control.
According to the reports received, no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the state till now.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the police at key points to avert any clash or disturbance due to bandh.
"The police will ensure that law and order is maintained.
We will not allow anyone to take law in his hands", Director General of Police AC Sharma said.