The Congress party has called for a Bharat Bandh in protest of rising fuel prices across the country. Most of the opposition parties have joined the protests too. However, the protests have not been peaceful in many cities and workers of several political parties have been indulging in vandalism, violence and disruptions.
According to reports, in Patna, the workers of Pappu Yadav’s Jan Adhikar Party have reportedly vandalised vehicles in the streets of Patna and have disrupted railways and roadways traffic in several locations.
Jan Adhikar Party workers vandalise vehicles during #BharatBandh protest in Patna against fuel price hike. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/3SX1WRiPps
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2018
Train transport has also been disrupted in several locations as political groups have stopped trains by protesting on busy railway tracks. The Patna-Gaya route is said to be badly affected and trains have been delayed. In Arrah, NSUI and AISA workers have reportedly stopped many trains
#BharatBandh: Members of #AISA and #NSUI have stopped a train at #Arrah railway station. The stoppage has disrupted the Patna-Gaya rail route. | Follow LIVE updates here: https://t.co/IWOHrzZdoH pic.twitter.com/T2dDcNXB4Q
— Firstpost (@firstpost) September 10, 2018
In Mumbai, the MNS had announced yesterday that it would be supporting the Bharat Bandh while Shiv Sena decided to sit it out. MNS workers have reportedly been busy vandalising shops and destroying public properties in many areas. In Pune, while the MNS workers began damaging Municipal corporation buses early in the morning, they have also set buses on fire.
#BharatBandh: #MNS protesters set Pune Municipal Transport bus on fire in Pune. Follow live updates here: https://t.co/H4OBxyzVwK pic.twitter.com/EfD4Lz26El
— Mumbai Mirror (@MumbaiMirror) September 10, 2018
In several areas of Mumbai, MNS workers have reportedly vandalised shops and blocked local and metro trains too. Media reports have shown MNS workers forcefully shutting down shops and creating a ruckus in busy market areas.
In Pune, a school bus has also been reportedly targeted by protesting workers and has been damaged. People on social media have condemned such acts and have openly expressed that political protests should not target innocents.
It’s one thing to call for a #Bandh for whatever political opposition you may have, but to target school children by violent means is unacceptable! @NCPspeaks @INCIndia @mnsadhikrut pic.twitter.com/RvbDdhPrDe
— AnaghaParanjape-Puro (@anaghapp) September 10, 2018
In Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, Congress workers have reportedly vandalised a petrol pump. In Bengaluru, transport and public services have been badly affected due to the Bharat Bandh as several transport associations are participating in the protests. Schools and Colleges across the city have been shut.
Previously in April, widespread incidents of violence and vandalism have been reported during the Bharat Bandh protests against the Supreme Court’s decision to amend the SC/ST Act. Many people had died and several others were injured.
