Bharat Bandh turned out to be a show of strength between the ruling BSP and opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh (UP). The bandh was virtually reduced to a symbolic protest at most places with the administration cracking down on protestors.
Chief minister Mayawati used the opportunity to demonstrate her prowess, besides making it clear that in national politics she prefers to stand her own ground.
BSP did not participate in the bandh. It would, instead, stage protests against the price hike at all district headquarters on Tuesday.
An official spokesman said the bandh was a “flop” in UP. Sources said hundreds of Samajwadi Party (SP) and BJP workers were put under preventive arrest throughout the state. A senior railway official said traffic remained normal in UP, but for 12-15 trains.
Senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Lalji Tandon were among those taken into custody after a brief round of caning of agitating party workers outside the state BJP headquarters in Lucknow’s Hazratganj area.
State SP president Akhilesh Yadav and party general secretary Shivpal Yadav were also arrested when they tried to march from the party office towards Vidhan Sabha.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav joined the bandh in Etawah. Sources said Mayawati managed to take the wind out of SP’s protest by getting many party leaders rounded up on Sunday itself.
Sources in the government said Mayawati had virtually made a “prestige issue” of the bandh and had given clear instructions at a meeting of top officials on Sunday that protestors trying to enforce closure of shops should be dealt with severely.
District magistrates were reportedly directed to ensure that no shops, markets or schools are closed due to the bandh. As a result, there was normal traffic in Lucknow and all schools, offices and markets were open.
