It’s a government protected Bandh, says BJP

Already facing hardships citizens curse MVA Govt for bandh, while BJP terms it as Govt protected Bandh

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Mumbai: In a bid to politically corner the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Center and in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh over the violent incident involving farmers protest in Lakhimpur Kheri, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) gave a Maharashtra Bandh call on Monday. But more than invoking support from Mumbaikar’s already reeling under the impact of pandemic induced lockdowns, the Bandh call has had a counter effect. The Bandh appears to have invoked little support in most parts of the city.

Working population of Mumbai appears to have been fed up with all these political dramas as citizens already facing hardships due to the lockdown. Though MVA government has called for bandh for a day, but it seems it has turned to be a flop show and MVA party workers are forcing people to shut their shops to forcefully make it a successful bandh.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the economic condition of the people is in a very bad shape. Life for many people was slowly getting back on track as people began to step out of their houses to earn their daily bread and butter for their families. But today due their Maharashtra Bandh again people are facing various problems and finding it difficult to commute to their offices.

The Federation of Retail Traders welfare Association (FRTWA) has supported the Bandh. “The FRTWA after the request from Shiv Sena and other party leaders have decided to keep shop closed till 4 pm in support of Bandh,” declared through a message.

Meanwhile, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lashed out at MVA for the bandh. The BJP has called the Maharashtra Bandh as government “protected bandh”.

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Senior BJP leader and former minister Adv Ashish Shelar has pointed out at Shiv Sena and said, “I have to clear one thing that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) should Bandh (close) this business of Bandh. Thackeray government likes only two words Bandh and stay. After two years of lockdown somehow things were getting on track, reopening of businesses, offices schools etc. And now ruling government itself has called for bandh.”

However, farmers and school children have not supported this bandh. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had announced bandh from Solapur. But farmers have to sell their produce at the markets. The vegetable market at Plaza near Shiv Sena Bhavan, was also open and farmers dumped all their produce there in a bid to sell it.

Meanwhile, Shelar disclosed that Additional Commissioner of Police, Special branch, CID has issued a report that law and order issue can arise due to this bandh and MVA party workers are circulating that report on WhatsApp and other social media. Shiv Sena Party workers are themselves announcing bandh with police protection, that is why I call it government protected bandh.

“Molestation of women is at peak. State farmers suicide is on a shameful rise, but it couldn’t move MVA Gov’s sensibility. The drama of state bandh by MVA is a mockery to the pain of victimised citizens of Maharashtra,” tweeted MP Manoj Kotak on the Bandh.

Eight BEST buses were vandalised at various places in Mumbai due to bandh. BEST which is one of the cheap and easy transport options for citizens has always been an easy target for the nuisance creators. BEST is the transport wing of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which is governed by Shiv Sena since over 25 years and is running under losses.

Already people are getting half of their salary or 70% salary due to pandemic and on top of that today if employees reach late at their work, they are apprehensive that even today they will be considered as half day attendance.

TheNews21 spoke to few commuters at Mira Road railway station about what they thought about the bandh.

“For incident in UP, politicians have called bandh in Maharashtra, why? These politicians have nothing to do with our problems which we face every day. Potholes is a major problem for us from decades why don’t they first focus on our own city and then state or entire nation. It’s just a politics and these politicians think people are fools they don’t understand their dirty politics, ” said Khadka Singh.

Another person who was trying to board the train to Churchgate said, “our state or city is problem free we do not have any problems it seems. Our politicians don’t see water scarcity, pathetic condition of roads, unemployment as issues. So, we are concerned about incident which occurred in UP or in any other state. It seems only Shiv Sena now with alliance with Congress and other parties became Maha Vikas Aghadi and BJP only exist on this earth and we common man who is thriving hard to earn are just fools.”