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Normal life may be hit in many states

Normal life across the country was  hit on Thursday as Opposition parties and some partners of the ruling UPA have called for nationwide bundh in protest against the steep hike in petrol prices.

The Bharat bundh has the support of the allies of the United Progressive Alliance such as the Trinamool Congress and DMK as well as the Opposition parties such as BJP and its supporting parties in the National Democratic Alliance, Left parties etc. Almost all the Central trade unions have given call for strike.

The Centre last week effected petrol price hike by a minimum of Rs 7.50 per litre triggering widespread protest across the country. Some states like Delhi have tried to reduce the burden on consumers by cutting taxes on petrol.

In major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, autos and taxis are  off the road while other services such as banking etc., have taken a hit. The impact may be felt less in Tamil Nadu which has already seen a protest called by the ruling AIADMK.

The NDA has termed the hike as "anti-people" and a "savage attack" on the people, while Left parties will observe the day as ’All India Protest Day’ that will include strikes, picketing, ’rasta roko’ and rallies.

However, the government has maintained that there will not be any immediate rollback of the prices. Petroleum Minister Jaipal Reddy has said that the government will watch the international situation for a few days before taking a decision.

Hike in petrol prices made the DMK patriarch issue a veiled threat to the government, leading to the speculation that the UPA government’s days are numbered. But he changed his stance soon after, putting rumours to rest.

Earlier in the day, at a protest rally near the Chepauk cricket stadium in Chennai, Karunanidhi warned the UPA “not to give room to a situation” wherein the DMK may be constrained to “leave” the coalition. The rally was part of the statewide protest against the Centre for petrol price hike and the state government for increasing tariffs.

Explanation sought

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court, on Wednesday, asked the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Union Ministry of Finance explain “legality of the recent petro-price hike”, by June 20.

The directive comes in the wake of a PIL admitted in the court casting aspersion on the “decision taken by the Centre to jack up the price of petrol as unconstitutional as it did not have Parliament’s approval.”