Bharat bandh was a failure in Delhi, says Sheila

New Delhi: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday described the Bharat bandh called by the NDA and Left parties to protest petrol price hike as a "total failure" in Delhi and "thanked" people of the city for not responding to it.

The Chief Minister, speaking in the Delhi Assembly, came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of forcibly blocking roads and making the traders shut their shops in various areas of the city.

"The bandh was total failure in Delhi. I thank people of Delhi for not supporting the bandh. I spoke to the police commissioner who said only minor incidents have taken place," Sheila said.

Accusing BJP workers of creating inconvenience to people by blocking roads and damaging DTC buses, Sheila said all the markets, offices and other establishments remained open and life in the city was totally normal.

"There was no disruption in the city. All the major markets remained open. People have rejected the bandh call," she said in the Assembly during a proposal moved by the Congress leader to denounce the bandh call.

But contrary to Sheila's claim, major markets in Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Laxmi Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Defence Colony, Khan Market and Connaught Place remained closed though by evening hours some shops were opened.

About petrol price hike, Sheila attacked the BJP asking why the states ruled by the party have not withdrawn VAT on increased component of petrol price to provide some relief to the citizens.

Presenting the budget on Monday, Sheila slashed VAT on the hiked price of petrol making the fuel cheaper by Rs 1.26 Congress ruled Uttarakhand and Kerala had also withdrew VAT on the hiked component of petrol. "They should first learn before giving lectures to others," said Dikshit.

Taking a potshot on BJP legislators, Sheila said the BJP leaders came in air-conditioned cars but their supporters were made to toil in Delhi's searing heat to ensure that the bandh is successful.

"All the BJP leaders came (to assembly) by AC cars but they made their supporters toil on the streets in 45 degree celsius heat," she said.

In the Assembly, BJP MLAs created a ruckus demanding suspension of the House proceedings due to the Bharat Bandh. They also protested demanding rollback of the five per cent VAT on CNG.

The BJP MLAs were expelled from the House for three days for continuously disrupting the House proceedings. In the absence of the opposition, the House passed a resolution criticising the opposition parties for creating inconvenience by giving the bandh call.

"The citizens of Delhi did not respond to the bandh call. In fact, they rejected it totally. Bharat Bandh called by NDA could not muster even slight support from people," said Sharma, moving the proposal.

The proposal also slammed the opposition parties for the bandh causing huge losses to the nation's exchequer as well as to the traders as trade and business was affected in various states.