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`Rail roko, chakka jam' mark U.P. bandh against price hike

Special Correspondent

Government claims protest symbolic; rail passengers inconvenienced

MUSCLE POWER: Samajwadi Party workers forcibly closing shops during the State-wide bandh against the recent hike in petrol and diesel prices in Lucknow on Tuesday. Photo: Subir Roy

LUCKNOW: "Rail roko" and "chakka jam" marked the Samajwadi Party-sponsored general strike and "bandh" in protest against the increase in prices of diesel, petrol and other essential commodities in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. The general strike call was given by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and was observed in the State with the support of the Left parties and the Rashtriya Lok Dal.

Even as the Home Department maintained that protest demonstrations were held in the entire State and trains were stopped at several places in the form of a symbolic protest against the rise in the prices of diesel and petrol, train movement was hampered at Allahabad, Basti, Barabanki, Lucknow and in other cities and towns. Here, Samajwadi Party workers sat on the rail tracks and stopped the movement of trains, putting the public to great inconvenience.

Reports from Allahabad said that Ganga-Gomti Express was allegedly stopped at Prayag and Phaphamau railway stations by the ruling party activists. Reports said rail traffic remained affected for about four hours. Besides, irate party workers resorted to a "chakka jam" on the busy Allahabad-Varanasi highway.

While the Vaishali Express was stopped at Basti, similar was the situation with some other trains in Barabanki, Kanpur, Etah and Etawah.

Addressing the party workers at the dharna and demonstration opposite the District Collectorate, Samajwadi Party national general secretary Amar Singh ridiculed the UPA chairperson and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he said that it is difficult to believe that the Prime Minister does not heed Sonia's advice. He was referring to Ms. Gandhi's opposition to the hike in the prices of diesel and petrol. Dubbing Mr. Singh as a committed worker of Ms. Gandhi, the Samajwadi Party leader said if the Congress president wants then the price hike would be withdrawn.

The Samajwadi general secretary said at least for the sake of Uttar Pradesh which was her home State, the UPA chairperson should direct the Prime Minister and the Petroleum Minister to withdraw the hike. In this context, Mr. Amar Singh refused to accept the Central Government's demand to reduce the sales tax on diesel and petrol as it would have a debilitating effect on the development schemes in the State.

"The State Government would reduce taxes if the Union Finance Minister gave the assurance that the Centre will bear the financial burden of the State development schemes," he remarked.

Referring to disclosure of her assets in the affidavit filed before the Rae Bareli District Magistrate in the recent byelection, the SP leader took a dig at Ms. Gandhi when he said if she had no house and car in her name then the Samajwadi workers would donate generously to enable her to purchase a house in Lucknow, and an air-conditioned Maruti Swift .

Later, addressing a press conference at the Samajwadi Party headquarters, Mr. Singh accused Ms. Gandhi of indulging in what he called the politics of one-upmanship on the issue of price rise. He said the Centre was always looking for an opportunity to attack Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party.

Mr. Singh said barring the criticism of A.B. Bardhan of CPI, the Left, particularly the CPI(M) has consistently supported the Samajwadi Party. He said the common nature of the general strike was the result of a coordinated effort between Mr. Prakash Karat and Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav.

A press handout issued by the ruling party said that the general strike and bandh was successful in 42 of the 70 districts, whereas in the remaining 28 districts it evoked a mixed response. Tuesday's strike in the districts was led by Ministers and MPs including Shivpal Singh Yadav, Ahmed Hasan, Akhilesh Yadav, Balram Yadav Naresh Agrawal and Ashok Bajpai.

The Home Department spokesman said the strike and bandh passed off peacefully.

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