The Hindu : Other States / Rajasthan News : Partial impact in Rajasthan

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Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

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Other States - Rajasthan

Partial impact in Rajasthan

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, NOV. 22. The much- awaited "sava'' (auspicious period for marriages) and the end of campaigning for elections to 44 civic bodies in Rajasthan affected public response to the bandh call issued by Vishwa Hindu Parishad to protest the arrest of the Kanchi seer, Jayendra Saraswati, today. The bandh had a partial impact on life here in the State capital as well as in most of the districts.

According to reports received here, the day passed off peacefully in the State except for the minor skirmishes which had taken place when workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the VHP tried to forcibly close shops and other business establishments. Minor incidents were reported from Jhalawar district and Jaipur suburbs while the bandh call reportedly evoked better response in Alwar and Bhilwara.

The candidates, especially those belonging to the BJP who are in the fray for the civic polls scheduled for November 24, had a difficult time on the ultimate day of campaigning as the bandh call disrupted their public contact programmes. The closure of shops also caused inconvenience to those who have wedding programmes today on the first day of "sava'' after a long gap of over a year.

School children appearing for their second term examinations too had problems in reaching the examination halls due to the obstruction of traffic at some places in the State.

While the Rajasthan BJP did not make any claims on the bandh, the main Opposition, the Congress, too kept quiet about it. The Communist Party of India(Marxist) in a statement here termed the bandh a "total flop'' in Rajasthan. "This is a fitting answer to the communal forces,'' Ravindra Shukla, member of the party's State Secretariat, said here in a statement.

LUCKNOW, NOV. 22. Normal life was partially affected today in Uttar Pradesh as the bandh evoked a mixed response in the State.

Reports received at the State headquarters here said normal life was partially affected in several districts including the capital town, Lucknow, as BJP supporters resorted to picketing and demanding closure of various business establishments.

Leaders of various Hindu organisations including the VHP and the BJP had appealed to all traders, merchants, businessmen, private and public enterprises to down their shutters, to express resentment against the seer's arrest and demand his immediate release.

Though shops and business establishments were closed in several areas of the State capital, vehicles were plying on the roads as usual.

A report from Muzaffarnagar said all business establishments were closed in response to the bandh call.

However, the bandh had no effect in Kanpur as the industrial city already observed a bandh on the issue on November 19 and a test cricket match between South Africa and India is also being played at the local green park stadium. UNI

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