Sambalpur: The five-hour bandh called by the ruling BJD to protest rising prices of petrol and diesel evoked robust response at Sambalpur.
Visible effects of the bandh were seen in early hours of the day. The bandh was observed between 7 am and 12 noon. It caused a lot of inconvenience to public.
Local MLA Dr Raseshwari Panigrahi led a team of BJD workers and advocates at a protest at Kachery Chowk to shut work at judicial offices. They blocked the way of judges and other judicial officials who came to attend office. They were politely requested to cooperate with the bandh and not insist on attending office.
Speaking to Orissa POST, Dr Panigrahi said the success of the bandh is visible in the city. She alleged the Centre was unable to feel the peoples’ pulse amid spiraling rise in the prices of petroleum products.
She demanded that the BJP explain to people on the justification for escalating prices of petrol and diesel. She cited the example of Sri Lanka where petrol is sold cheaper than in India although it purchases the fuel from India.
The morning vegetable market was affected. Vegetable vendors opened stalls as usual but no fresh vegetable was available as the entry points to the city were closely guarded by BJD workers.
Rairakhol MLA Rohit Pujhary personally led his team at Dhanupali crossings to block the entrance of outside vehicles who ferry vegetables to the city. Vehicles from Dhama, Angul and Padiabahal pass through Dhanupali to Sambalpur.
Advocate Surya Panigrahi, a BJP worker, said the petrol price at Rs 70.43 is the result of Rs 30.51 basic petrol price, Rs 3.57 dealer margin, Rs 9.89 Central taxes and Rs 26.56 state taxes.
He said the price of petrol could come down if the state tax is reduced. “So what’s the point in misleading people by launching a statewide bandh today?” He asked.
Sambalpur University staff and students were stuck in the city till 12 noon as their bus was stopped at Parsuram Mishra crossings. The university registrar could not comment on the situation as he had no prior information about the bandh.
Most of the school managements in the city and suburbs adopted precautionary measures for the safety and security of students as they had prior information in this regard.
Sri Aurobindo Institute of Integral Education and Research was opened to observe its foundation day. Only staff and parents came to the school and students were told not to attend the foundation day function during the day.
Pramod Rath, BJD district president, said, “We are thankful to people at large for the success of Monday’s bandh.” He said the bandh was observed in a peaceful manner with no violence.
He added that BJD workers blocked movements of trains by picketing at railway station for some time. Similarly, both the national highways at Sambalpur were blocked for some time.
A BJD leader, requesting anonymity, said though the bandh paralysed Sambalpur, it deviated from its original plan. It was earlier planned to hand over a memorandum to the Prime Minister protesting the fuel price hike by staging a dharna before the office of the collector. But BJD leaders and workers were so overwhelmed by the success of the bandh that it was forgotten, he added. PNN
