Bandh evokes mixed response

The nationwide 'bandh' called by 21 political parties, including the Congress and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), received mixed response in the financial capital – Mumbai wherein transport was temporarily disrupted at some places, including sporadic incidents of stone pelting and damage to public property.

Protesters targeted buses and disrupted train traffic in parts of the state and the Mumbai city against the rising fuel prices, but schools, colleges and offices remained opened in the state.

Maharashtra Congress workers staged protests in various parts of the BJP-ruled state in response to the nationwide shutdown called by the party's central leadership against the rising fuel prices.

The shutdown was also backed by other opposition parties such as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Samajwadi Party, the Peasants and Workers' Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

While some shops and establishments in the city were already shut for their usual weekly 'Monday holiday', the fear of violence forced others to voluntarily down shutters at other places.

The police had beefed up security with police personnel stationed at every nook and corner of the city including Parel, Lalbaug, Kalachowki, Dadar, Ghatkopar and others. The protests were led by leaders including Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam, Manikrao Thackare, Ashok Chavan wherein Chavan travelled on a local train to reach Andheri station to join protestors at Andheri.

Sanjay Nirupam, who was protesting at a platform on Andheri station, suddenly jumped on to the tracks to block trains. A few other Congressmen followed suit.

Personnel of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) swung into action and evicted Nirupam and his supporters from the tracks. Members of the MNS unsuccessfully tried to block motorcade of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis near Siddhivinayak Temple, where he had come for an event. They were held by security personnel deployed there.

The workers of the Raj Thackeray-led party reportedly vandalised the office of BJP corporator Vinod Mishra in Dindoshi and also deflated tyres of BEST buses in Goregaon.

While schools, colleges, emergency services were left out of the bandh, over a dozen BEST buses were damaged during the bandh, while some taxis stayed away from roads fearing a backlash.