The Congress on Thursday decided to take the plunge and emulate what the BJP did to it just before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The party has announced that it will hold a nationwide Bharat Bandh on September 10, which will include protests over spiraling fuel prices, inflation and the falling rupee.
This is the first big pan-India people's campaign that the Congress has decided to undertake to take on the Modi government over escalating fuel prices, currently touching record highs.
The decision was arrived at after a marathon meeting on Thursday of its top functionaries, including general secretaries, chiefs of state units and other senior functionaries.
The party has also reached out to key Opposition parties to lend their support to the Bharat Bandh to make it properly effective.
"It was a unanimous decision; everyone agreed. The Opposition parties are also on board the decision to organise a nationwide Bharat Bandh on Monday. We appeal to the common man to join us," said Ashok Gehlot, general secretary in charge of Congress.
Newly-elected treasurer Ahmed Patel said most Opposition parties have given their consent while consultations are still on with BSP. Trinamool Congress has agreed to join the agitation, but they will give a separate call for the Bharat Bandh. "The left parties have decided to lend full support to the Bharat Bandh and call upon the people to join this protest in a big way to demonstrate people's rejection of the Modi government and its policies," they said in joint statement.
The bandh, to be held between 9 am and 3 pm on Monday, will include symbolic dharnas (sit in) at petrol pumps. The Congress plans to use the opportunity to explain Rafale "scam" to the public in simple terms.
"This is the carelessness of the government that prices are increasing despite international prices going down…Prices increased during UPA's time also, but we took measures to contain it and bring relief to people," said Gehlot.
Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "When Congress demitted office on May 16, 2014, the international crude oil price was $106.24 per barrel compared to present $73. Yet, petrol was selling at Rs. 71.41 in May 2014 and has risen to Rs. 79.51 per litre now. This is sheer looting."
