Ahemdabad:
The nationwide bandh called by the NDA and Left parties to protest the steep petrol price hike evoked mixed response in Gujarat.
Shops and commercial establishments remained closed in Ahmedabad even as the state government suspended bus services in the city after buses were pelted with stones by the protesters. Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) workers also tried to block rail traffic.
Auto-rickshaws also joined the shutdown adding to the woes of commuters in the city as party workers took to streets to enforce the bandh call.
Reports from Saurashtra say that there was total shutdown in Rajkot, Amreli and Bhavnagar district, while it met with a mixed response in Jamnagar.
Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry stayed away from the bandh, saying that the state government could have reduced VAT (Value Added Tax) on petrol to provide some relief to people.
In Vadodara, autorikshaws continued to ply on roads undeterred by the bandh call though the commuters complained of fleecing by some unscrupulous drivers who tried to exploit the situation.
A private company running bus services in the city, pulled out buses fearing violence by the agitators.
Almost all the business organisations and associations have extended their full support to the shutdown and remained closed down.
The petrol pumps and CNG stations too remained closed. The bandh largely remained peaceful.