Strike sees travel grind to a halt

Transport systems ground to a halt and businesses were closed on Monday in many parts of India following a one-day strike by the main opposition parties to protest at a government-imposed hike in fuel prices.

"Because of the obstruction caused by protesters, train services have been stopped in West Bengal state," said Samir Goswami, a railroad spokesman, in Calcutta, the state's capital. Flights were also halted at Calcutta's airport, which serves domestic and international destinations.

Train and air services were affected in Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, where taxis went off the roads as protesters belonging to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena came out on the streets.

There was no major violence reported in the country, although there were some minor scuffles between demonstrators and police.

Demonstrators and police also clashed in Lucknow in northern Uttar Pradesh, where two Hindu nationalist leaders, Arun Jaitley and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, were detained by police, said Surendra Srivastava, a police spokesman.

Worst-hit were the states governed by communist groups and the opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which is seen as generally pro-market. Those states included Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal and Kerala states.

There were also some minor disturbances in New Delhi, though businesses and schools remained open.

The opposition called the day-long protest after the federal government refused to roll back the 6.7 percent hike in fuel prices announced 10 days ago.

The unpopular hike in fuel prices came as the government struggled to stem losses at state-run oil companies and tame the fiscal deficit while facing double digit inflation.

The government said the hike could save the state $5.2 billion (£3.4 billion) but exacerbate inflation by nearly a percentage point.

Lakshmi Rai-Sour grapes?

Indian Cricket captain MS Dhoni, the most eligible bachelor in the country got married to Sakshi Singh Rawat on Sunday and created heart burns for thousands of his fan following including our own Lakshmi Rai!

Remember, Lakshmi Rai made it a point to be present at all cricket matches where Dhoni was present and tried to piggy back ride on his star celebrity status. She went to Mumbai without a solid Bollywood offer and tried to cash in on her supposed closeness to Dhoni, though it backfired.

After Dhoni’s hush-hush wedding the actress has taken a U- turn and said: “We were always good friends but the media misunderstood our relationship.” Even more incredible is her statement that she knew Dhoni was getting married to Sakshi!

The actress who did not miss any opportunity to grab upcountry news channel headlines earlier, now says: “I was keeping it under wraps all this while, as he is my close friend and it was a closely guarded secret. I’m very happy for him and would like to wish the couple all the very best.”

But we are amazed how this “close friend” of MSD was not invited for the wedding in Dehradun where only “selective guests close to the couple” were invited!

Delhi: Bandh supporters block road, rail, metro services

Delhi: The nation-wide Bharat Bandh called by opposition parties to protest fuel price rise did not seem to have hit normal life in the capital today though BJP workers blocked road, rail and metro services in some areas.

Buses, autos and private vehicles were plying on the streets from the morning, while offices registered more than an average attendance. Operations at the Indira Gandhi International airport were reported normal.

"Delhi Police has taken adequate security measures to ensure law and order during the protest. Policemen are on streets to ensure that no untoward incident takes place. No violence has been reported," a senior police official said.

BJP supporters entered Metro stations in Rajiv Chowk, Karol Bagh, Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri West and Uttam Nagar stations posing as passengers and shouted slogans. Protesters also locked the gates of Patel Nagar station creating problems for commuters.

DMRC officials, however, said services were not hit and trains ran as per schedule.

Protesters also targeted the Indian Railways by blocking trains at Nangloi, Badli and Shakurpur stations.

Party workers started assembling around 9 AM in various parts of the capital and blocked traffic in major intersections and roads like Laxmi Nagar, Vikas Marg, ITO, Preet Vihar, Akshardham and Madhuban Chowk.

Protests were also witnessed at the Inter-State Bus Terminal in east Delhi's Anand Vihar where BJP workers blocked the entrance of the depot preventing buses from coming in and going out.

In Preet Vihar, some BJP activists entered into a scuffle with police during the protest. "We were trying to remove the blockade after arresting some leaders. They wanted all of them to be arrested and entered into a scuffle with us," a senior police official said.

In some localities like Uttam Nagar, protesters punctured tyres of DTC buses and some private vehicles.

Police said traffic obstructions due to protest were reported from Lado Sarai, Mahaveer Murty towards Gurgoan, Devli Mode, MB Road, Sai Baba Chowk, Rohini and Janakpuri. Vehicular movement was also affected at Nizamudin-Ring Road T point, Tigri Khanpur, Apsara Border, Sindhu Border, Burari Chowk, Khajuri Chowk, Prashant Vihar and Paschim Vihar due to the protest.

Police said personnel have been deployed across the city to manage the traffic.

The bandh had little effect on the operations of the Indira Gandhi International airport here though some flights to Mumbai, where the protest disrupted normal life, have been cancelled.

"Most of the arriving and departing flights were on schedule. No services have been disrupted though some flights to Mumbai have been cancelled," an airport official said.
Source: NDTV