Patna:
NDA Convener and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) national president Sharad Yadav and BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain were among 800 activists taken into custody while enforcing the NDA sponsored "Bharat bandh" in Bihar to protest the petrol price hike.
Yadav along with 700-odd NDA supporters took out processions in Saharsa town to enforce the call. They were soon taken into custody and were taken to the Saharsa sadar police station, sources said.
Hussain, the BJP National Spokesman, and others were detained in Bhagalpur town while trying to enforce the bandh, they said.
Talking to reporters, Yadav demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh resign immediately for the "failure" of his government in controlling spiralling prices of petroleum products and essential commodities.
Yadav claimed the bandh was total.
Ruling JD-U and BJP leaders also took out processions in the state capital to enforce the call.