UP largely unaffected by 'Bharat Bandh'; CM, Oppn spar

Congress's 'Bharat Bandh' had little impact on normal life in Uttar Pradesh Monday as most commercial establishments and educational institutions operated as usual, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the Opposition for having a "negative thinking".

Amidst tight security by the state government, commercial establishments, offices, schools and colleges operated as per their regular schedule and vehicular traffic in main towns and cities of the state remained unaffected by the bandh.

Heavy police deployment was ensured at important places, especially petrol pumps, a senior police officer said.

The nation-wide bandh has been called by the Congress party over rising fuel prices and depreciation of the rupee.

Slamming the opposition parties for their 'Bharat Bandh', Adityanath said this kind of "negative thinking" will obliterate them from the opposition benches soon.

"This (bandh) is a manifestation of their (opposition parties) negative thinking. India is rising as the biggest economy in the world under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Welfare schemes are being launched, people are getting benefits. In such a scenario, nothing else can be expected from the desperate and demoralised opposition, which has no leadership or plans or strategy for the future," Adityanath told reporters in Lucknow.

"May God bless them and give them wisdom... They should cooperate on the issue of development and play a positive role instead of adopting a negative approach, otherwise they will not be able to sit even in the opposition," he said.

Hitting back at the ruling party, Congress state president Raj Babbar said, "The rise in prices of petrol and diesel have severely affected common man and government was not serious towards their problems. Congress party will continue fighting for the people."
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "While the opposition is protesting, prices of petrol and diesel have been hiked again this morning. This reflects the government's audacity and arrogance and callousness towards the common man."