Normal life was hit in NDA and Left-ruled states today as rail, air and bus services were disrupted during a bandh called against fuel price hike while stray incidents of violence occurred in Maharashtra and Karnataka where BJP workers pelted stones at buses.
Senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi were arrested in Lucknow while trying to lead a procession towards the main Hazratganj crossing. BJP workers claimed that a number of party activists and leaders were injured when police baton-charged the protestors.
In NDA-ruled Bihar, Punjab and Karnataka, life was thrown out of gear with agitators stopping trains and buses.
Schools, colleges and business establishments remained closed as groups of protestors hit streets trying to enforce the 12-hour bandh.
In West Bengal and Kerala, air, rail and road services were disrupted. Only Air India flights operated out of NSC Bose International Airport in Kolkata as streets wore a deserted look in the eastern metropolis where CITU gave the strike call.
In Maharashtra, police cracked down on trouble makers and detained nearly 10,000 people, official sources said.
Considering low passenger load in view of the bandh, domestic airlines have cancelled 45 departures and 39 arrivals at the domestic airport in Mumbai.
While taxis and auto-rickshaws are off the road in the country's financial capital, municipal buses and local trains were plying with very few passengers during the usually crowded morning hours.
At suburban Mulund railway station, BJP workers led by former MP Kirit Somaiya were detained while staging "rail roko". In suburban Borivali, Mumbai BJP president and MLA Gopal Shetty was detained with supporters during a similar protest.
Incidents of stone-pelting on buses and trains were reported from Pune and some parts of Mumbai including Vikhroli, Borivali and Kandivali. However, no one was injured.
In Delhi, the bandh evoked a lukewarm response though BJP workers blocked road, rail and Metro services in some areas.
Buses, autos and private vehicles were on the streets from the morning while offices had more than average attendance.
Besides the BJP, those participating in the bandh are Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, JD-U, CPI-M, CPI, Forward Block, RSP, AIADMK, MDMK TDP, BJD, JD(S), AGP, Akali Dal and INLD to protest against the increase in fuel prices.
