The 12 hour Bharat bandh called by all opposition parties on July 5 to protest against the fuel price rises.The government of India is decontrolling petrol prices after a gap of six years.The price of Petrol increased by Rs 3.50 per litre ($ 0.08 ) kerosene by Rs 3 ($0.07) per litre, diesel by Rs 2 per litre ($0.04) and LPG cylinder by Rs 35 per cylinder ( $0.77).The government today ruled out rolling back increase in fuel prices.
Despite courts order that Bandhs or general strikes are illegal,political parties in India called bandhs on different reasons.People who live in the Communist ruled states of West Bengal and Kerala know that ruling party often called general strikes.On 1997,the Kerala High Court had passed the order that general strikes were illegal.On 2003,a fine of Rs.20 lakh ($45,000) each was imposed on right wing Shiv Sena and BJP by the Mumbai High Court for the damage caused to public properties.On October 1,2007, the Tamil Nadu bandh,called by ruling DMK on the issue of the Setusamudram Canal Project violate the Supreme Court’s order.On Sept.30,2007 the Supreme Court of India stayed a DMK-sponsored bandh in Tamil Nadu on the Setusamudram sea canal project issue.Earlier the Kerala High Court and Bombay High Court had ruled that the Chief Minister of a state can not lead a strike in his own state.
On July 17,2009,Violence broke out in different parts of Calcutta and other parts of Bengal when Indian National Congress supporters went on the rampage.The State Congress leadership had called a 12-hour State-wide general strike to protest against attack on their leaders.In recent past the ruling Communist party of India (Marxist) as well as opposition parties observed general strikes on different occasion in West Bengal.During the protest against the acquisition of fertile farmland to set up a car factory and chemical hub in Singur and Nandigram,West Bengal had been hit by general strikes frequently.In general strike protesters closed offices and shops and public transport forcefully. Ordinary people face difficulties and lose a day’s work.Industries also faceheavy loss.Experts believe that Bandh will not serve any purpose.