BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday, 11 September, blamed both BJP and Congress equally responsible for fuel price hike. Mayawati’s comments come just a day after her party’s dismal show in the Bharat Bandh called by a united Opposition against rising fuel prices in the country.
On Monday, Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala and senior Congress leader addressed the media over rising fuel prices, saying the people of India are being cheated. He said that the government has increased the excise and custom duty on petrol and diesel by 212 percent and over 400 percent respectively.
Earlier the same day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi led the protest march in Delhi against rising fuel prices.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also joined the protest. Top Opposition leaders including Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav, Manoj Jha, Somnath Bharti, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Manoj Sharma were also present.
- According to the Congress, 21 Opposition parties supported the bandh
- While bus services were hit in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, protesters also stopped trains in Mumbai and Odisha
- Protests turned violent in Patna with Jan Adhikar Party supporters vandalising vehicles and public property
- Certain Left parties backed by the CPI(M) have called for a separate bandh
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BJP, Congress Equally Responsible for Fuel Price Hike: Mayawati
BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday blamed both BJP and Congress as equally responsible for fuel price hike. Mayawati’s comments come just a day after her party’s dismal show in the Bharat Bandh called by a united Opposition against rising fuel prices in the country.
“Our party holds BJP and Congress equally responsible for rising fuel prices in the country,” said Mayawati as quoted by ANI.
Bandh Organised to Divert Attention from Herald Case: BJP
The BJP on Monday claimed that the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the Congress was to divert the people's attention from the hearing in the Delhi High Court on a matter related to the National Herald case involving its "corrupt" leaders.
"The people whose conscience was locked somewhere, those who were thick involved in corruption, the same people had deliberately called for the Bharat Bandh because they knew the National Herald case was on and the verdict was expected today," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters.
Bandh Unsuccessful in Maharashtra Since Shiv Sena Wasn't Consulted: State Minister
The Shiv Sena on Monday said the Congress' Bharat bandh failed to generate desired impact in Maharashtra because the Uddhav Thackeray-led party was not "consulted" over the protest.
Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar (Shiv Sena) said the bandh was observed only in half of Maharashtra.
Senior Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Monday, too said the bandh would have generated better impact had the Congress consulted his party in advance.
Human Rights Activist Files Complaint Against Rahul Gandhi in Assam
A human rights activist in Assam has filed a police complaint against Congress President Rahul Gandhi, alleging harassment of common people in the state owing to a bandh sponsored by his party, reported PTI quoting sources.
Raju Mahanta, the president of NGO Sahai, said even patients on their way to hospital faced obstructions on the road due to the bandh, Mahanta, whose NGO works for the rights of destitute, elderly people and underprivileged children, said in his complaint.