Bharat Bandh: Protests across India over petrol price hike

The main Opposition parties, the BJP and the Left, have called for a Bharat bandh today to protest last week's hike in petrol prices. The hike was the steepest ever at Rs. 6.28 plus local taxes, and the demand for a rollback has been universal.

Big UPA allies like the Trinamool and the DMK too have strongly protested, but both parties made it clear that they will not destabilise the central government.

This picture tweeted by Karthik Chowdary.A, shows a bus which was set on fire in Bangalore.

There has been a mixed response so far to the Bharat bandh called by the BJP and the Left today to protest last week's hike in petrol prices.

Protests, marches and road blocks were planned all across the country.

Workers of the Samajwadi Party are seen blocking trains in Allahabad. The Samajwadi Party has called for a state-wide bandh today.

SP workers, sitting on railway tracks in Allahabad, raised slogans against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and demanded roll back of petrol price hike.

Saaket Express stopped at Allahabad station by SP workers.

SP workers burned the effigy of the UPA government to protests against the petrol price hike in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

In Trinamool-Congress-ruled Kolkata, early morning saw fewer people on the road.

There have been reports of several BEST buses in Mumbai being stoned, buses being set on fire and being stoned in Karnataka and trains have been stopped in UP's Allahabad, and places in Odisha and Jharkhand. I

In Kolkata, BJP workers tried to block the road to the airport at Baguihati. They also burnt rubber tyres. The police finally dispersed the crowd and one person was arrested.

Public transport, though less in number, is running smoothly; no cancellation of flights in West Bengal state.

Elaborate security arrangements for the bandh. The West Bengal state government had also issued a circular warning government employees against any leave on the bandh day.

In Asanol (West Bengal), CPM protests against petrol prices by loading a motorcycle onto a bullock cart.

As part of their agitation against the recent petrol price hike, BJP workers blocked traffic at many places across the national capital.

The BJP, which rules the municipal corporations in Delhi, is also protesting against the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by the Congress-ruled state government. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had proposed to levy a five per cent VAT on CNG which will push the price of the fuel from Rs. 35.45 per kg to 37.20 per kg.

This had led to several autorickshaw unions demanding a hike in fares in the capital city, also calling for a strike today, that coincides with the bandh.

Places to avoid while travelling in Delhi today: Khanpur (BRT Chowk); Dwarka-Palam Flyover; Karol Bagh (Ajmal Khan Chowk); Shahdra (Maujpur Chowk); Rohini (Madhuban Chowk); Chandini Chowk (Lal Quila Chowk); Mangol Puri (Pathar Market); Defence Colony Chowk; Malviya Nagar Chowk; Shastri Park; Uttam Nagar Terminal; Sagarpur Chowk; Britannia Chowk; Ajmeri Gate chowk; Mathura Road and Badarpur T-Point.

Office goers brace for a tough commute in Delhi as protestors block roads at Akshardham Chowk.

JD(U) workers stage rail roko in Patna, trains in the area affected.

Bandh impact in Mumbai: Extensive deployment of police; preventive detention ordered.

In Satara, Maharashtra, Shiv Sena and BJP workers have stopped all buses from plying on the roads. They have also called for shops to close down.

As part of their agitation against the recent petrol price hike, BJP workers blocked the National Highway 3 in Agra.

Protests in Jammu.

Karnataka CM Sadananda Gowda cycles in Bangalore in protest to petrol price hike. The picture was tweeted by Shreeharsha Perla.

Bharat Bandh seems to be spontaneous as hardly any traffic was visible on otherwise highly crowded Dr. B. Baruah Road, Guwahati. This pic was tweeted by Manoj Anand.

Another tweet pic from Arunram show vast empty roads.

A picture tweeted by Rajeev Khare from Mumbai, shows crowd free railway platform.

In Mumbai, sporadic incidents of violence have been reported from the suburbs of Andheri and Mulund.

Jayesh Nambiar tweeted this picture showing protests in the city.

Fewer autorickshaws are plying on the roads and public transport is likely to be hit. Nearly 300 trader associations in the city will also keep markets shut to support the shutdown.

Benry Kikon tweeted this picture.

Mukunth Harish from Banglore tweeted this picture which shows traffic free roads.