Monday’s Surat bandh call given by Vishwa Hindu Parishad proved to be a total failure, even as no untoward incident was reported from any part of the city. The preventive detention of VHP and Bajrang Dal office-bearers and activists ensured that the bandh did not take off.
VHP had called for the bandh to protest against the gangrape of a teenage school girl by three Muslim youths, two of who are sons of policemen. Several other organisations had also decided to observe bandh but withdrew the call after Deepak Swaroop’s transfer.
The outfit’s office-bearers had announced that the bandh would be totally voluntary and they would not force anyone to participate in the strike. There was tension in some areas of the city as the day started. However, the tension eased after it emerged that a large number of VHP activists and office-bearers were taken in preventive custody in the night.
In most of the areas, there was no sign of the bandh. Shops and commercial establishments in different areas such as Udhna, Bhatar, Ghoddod, Citylight, Parle Point, Nanpura, Chowk Bazaar, Adajan, Rander, Varachha, Katargam, among others remained open without any inkling of the bandh. However, some shops at Raj Marg decided to remain closed.
Shops and commercial establishments at Varachha and Kapodara remained closed for some time in the morning. However, most of them remained open during the later part of the day. The diamond trading hubs of Mahidharpura and Mini Bazaar were also teeming with people.
The day-to-day life was normal, and most of the schools and colleges functioned as usual. However, attendance was thin in some schools as many parents decided not to send their children to school for the day as a precaution.
The citizens, who were wary of violence or use of force if they did not take part in the bandh, breathed easy on learning about the detention of VHP activists.
Police officials said that a combination of tight security arrangements by the police and restraint by citizens led to the failure of the bandh call.
