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Monday, Nov 15, 2004

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National

West Bengal to oppose bandhs by Opposition

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, NOV.14. The leadership of the Communist Party of India [Marxist] in West Bengal has called for a two-day programme of processions and street-meetings from tomorrow in protest against the Centre's decision to raise the prices of petroleum products, and the move by certain Opposition parties to make the price hike an excuse to foment unrest in the State by announcing three bandhs in succession over a single issue in the days ahead.

While the Socialist Unity Centre of India [SUCI] has called for a 24-hour bandh on Wednesday in protest against the price hike, the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist [Liberation] has called for a 12-hour bandh on November 22. The Trinamool Congress has organised a 12-hour bandh on December 3. The CPI(M) and other Left parties have started a nation-wide campaign against the price rise.

But, by calling three bandhs in the State on the same issue within a span of 17 days, the Opposition parties concerned are not only trying to disturb normality but also weaken a movement being built up against the decision, according to the CPI(M) State secretary, Anil Biswas.

The Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, has said that the Government will oppose the bandhs and it is for the public to judge whether separate bandhs called over a single issue are relevant or not. The Government has asked the district administrations and police to ensure that employees attend work on Wednesday.

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