Mumbai: Congress announces ‘City Bandh’ on Sept 10; asks to keep political agenda aside

As the fuel prices in India rising each passing days, Mumbai Congress has announced a City Bandh on Monday to protest against an incessant rise in fuel prices in India. In City Bandh, Hospitals, Pharmacies, schools and Colleges, milk supply vehicles will be excluded.

The Congress party is also busy talking to taxi unions, markets, petrol dealers’ Association to support this City Bandh protest. Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam said, “This is a part of the nationwide bandh. So, we urge people not to step out of their homes and not to use bikes and bus and train services. Don’t go to work for one day.”

While addressing a press conference along with the NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik on Saturday, Nirupam said,  “Since PM Narendra Modi took over, fuel prices have been rising and everyone is affected by it.”

The Mumbai Congress party has already gained the support from NCP, left parties such as Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India, Peasants and Workers Party with others and various labour unions have extended their support to City bandh.

Indian Prime Minister has once said, that One Nation One Tax, then why fuel has not been included in the ambit of GST so far? Even, Union and state governments are not ready to cut down the VAT and excise taxes on the fuel prices to give relief to the people.

“So, it has become necessary to organise city bandh to build pressure on the government to force them to provide some relief to common people,” he added. “Keeping political differences aside, we urge the Shiv Sena and MNS to support the bandh if they care for the people,” he said.

“The BJP should use the majority and bring the petroleum products within GST. But, it doesn’t want to do it. The bandh will show the anger people have in their minds,” said Malik. However, an MNS leader refused to take part in a protest called by Congress.

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