- / ! $!%!$%4 2$)*03 $)"01 "89%:--)(-(. (,-0-,,+.7- ./0(1.( . 4.) (,-(; ((404 .. (2 -.12-, 3,4 "% #%5 3 ! !" #$%&'( # $%#& $#' (#&$ )*$( (#+ ' ! "$% !& P + , ! " ! # $R " +,- time for all Opposition parties to shed their differences and n an apparent rebuff to the move forward unitedly “to ICongress-led Bharat Bandh save” sovereignty and democ- $! +,- call over the rising fuel prices, racy in the country. The oil companies once again hiked Narendra Modi Government the prices of petrol and diesel has acted against the interests but this is a problem whose a “history-sheeter” on the issue amajwadi Party president on Monday even as the shut- of the country and has now +,- solution is not in our hands,” of price rise whenever it was in SAkhilesh Yadav criticised down met with mixed response “crossed the limits”, Singh said. he said. power and is now shedding the Modi Government on across the country. The bandh Hitting out at Modi, Sharad he BJP on Monday The Modi Government has crocodile tears. Monday for hiking turned violent in some parts of Pawar said that the BJP-led Tslammed the Opposition worked a lot to bring down Accusing the Opposition of the prices of petroleum prod- the country and normal life Central Government has “failed” parties for the Bharat Bandh inflation and has achieved suc- tying to create a “negative ucts on the day was affected in both the Hindi to deliver on its promises. RJD called over rising in fuel prices cess as well, said Prasad, adding atmosphere” in the country Opposition parties staged heartland and in south India. !"# leader and Rajya Sabha MP and said the inflationary trend that inflation was 10.4 per cent since Modi came to power in ‘Bharat Bandh’. Akhilesh Except Trinamool Congress, all Manoj Jha said that people are was temporary and caused by between 2009 and 14 of UPA May 2014, he wondered if said the Government major Opposition parties had Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, rising fuel prices and the Rafale suffering due to the unprece- global factors which were rule and is now 4.7 per cent. some “invisible hand” attitude shows its “insensi- backed the bandh. offering prayers at Rajghat and fighter jet deal, in which the dented hike in petrol and diesel beyond the control of the “The people were indiffer- gave “supari” (contract) tivity” towards common Normal life remained unaf- then leading protests that led to party has alleged a scam. Rahul prices. In Bihar, Maharashtra and Central Government. ent to the nationwide shut- to destroy the progress India people. fected in Delhi with offices, traffic congestion in the New said the country is being divid- Rajasthan, the bandh received Hitting out at the Congress down, because they under- has made. Akhilesh Yadav said, schools and colleges opening at Delhi area. Nationalist ed under Narendra Modi, and good response and saw sporadic and its allies, Union Minister stand the rise in fuel prices, “The Congress is a cruise “While the Opposition is their regular time and vehicles Congress Party’s Sharad Pawar hence a united Opposition will incidents of violence, it met Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged though temporary, is because of of corruption and whichever protesting, prices of petrol plying on the roads. The protest and Loktantrik Janata Dal’s defeat the BJP in the next elec- with mixed response in West that they resorted to violence factors beyond the control of party joins it will sink with it,” and diesel have been hiked remained largely “peaceful”. Sharad Yadav were also present. tions. “People believed in him Bengal and Tripura. Normal life during the Bandh due the Indian Government,” he said, adding this is the rea- again this morning. This In the national Capital the day Addressing a protest rally and helped form his was also affected in Assam and to lack of support from he said. son several Opposition parties reflects the Government’s began with Congress presi- at Ramlila Grounds, Rahul Government,” he said. Arunachal, and Odisha. The the masses. Union Minister Mukhtar have kept away from the audacity and arrogance and dent Rahul Gandhi and senior questioned the silence of Prime Former Prime Minister bandh had little impact in “We are standing with the Abbas Naqvi also criticised ‘Bharat Bandh’ call given by the insensitivity towards the party leaders, including Sonia Minister Narendra Modi on Manmohan Singh said it was Congress-ruled Mizoram. people in their concern, the Congress saying it has been Congress. common man.” $%()#&**#&% %#&)"$"&*!%"&"# al trains. Secretariat. purview of the bandh. Effect of the bandh was More than 50 Congress “The Central Government including Baramunda and largely felt in the capital city activists, including senior leader led by Narendra Modi is favour- Badambadi bus stands in the Bhubaneswar as Congress work- Bhakta Das, were detained by ing the corporate houses,” said he Bharat Bandh called by twin cities. ers blocked roads at Khandagiri the Commissionerate Police PCC president Niranjan Patnaik. Tthe Congress and Left par- Air travellers arriving at Square, Vani Vihar Chhak and while marching towards the The BJD said although it is ties protesting the skyrocketing the Biju Patnaik International Satsang Vihar Chhak, thereby State Assembly. Though the against the fuel price hike, it did fuel prices hit normal life across Airport were also stranded with paralysing movement of police made elaborate security not support the bandh. “We have the State on Monday. taxis and auto-rickshaws off vehicles on the National arrangements for the shutdown, been holding protests across the Vehicular communications the roads. People dependant on Highway across the city. there were no untoward inci- State to make the people aware came to a grinding halt in public transport for commuting Several senior Congress dents reported. about the price rise of the petro- major cities and towns of the had no other alternative but leaders also staged a sit-in at the The Biju Patnaik University leum products,” said BJD State as the Congress workers trudge on foot to their destina- Master Canteen Square near of Technology (BPUT) Vice spokesperson Sasmit Patra. resorted to road blockade and tions. Train services were also the Congress Bhawan. Chancellor cancelled exami- The BJP said there was no picketing at various junctions. affected due to the bandh as the Led by Pradesh Congress nations scheduled for the day reason for calling a nationwide Bus passengers suffered Congress leaders and workers Committee (PCC) president in view of the bandh. protest as hike in fuel prices is severe inconvenience as buses staged Rail Roko at Balangir, Niranjan Patnaik, hundreds of Emergency services, due to the rise in crude oil stayed off the roads due to the Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak, party workers later staged pick- including ambulance, move- prices in international market shutdown. Passengers Brahmapur, Sambalpur, Cuttack eting near the main gate of the ment of examinees, medicine and falling rupee value remained stranded at major and Jaleswar railway stations State Assembly and demon- shops and vehicles carrying against US dollar. bus stands across the State disrupting movement of sever- stration in front of the State milk were kept out of the Continued on Page 4 R !"#$"$%&'##% he State Assembly was on TMonday adjourned for a whole day till Tuesday as Congress and BJP ! "# agatsinghpur BJD leaders on Monday met members protested against the fuel JBJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen price hike and the horticulture Patnaik here and sought Paradip MLA and sapling scam, respectively. %& ' former Minister Damodar Rout’s expulsion At the outset, Congress mem- () from the party. bers rushed into the Well of the fter reviewing the flood sit- ! A group of leaders led by Jagatsinghpur House and shouted slogans against Auation in the State, Chief BJD district president Bishnu Das and both the Union Government and the Minister Naveen Patnaik on * Balikuda-Erasama MLA Prashant Muduli State Government while protesting Monday announced relief for met Patnaik at the Naveen Niwas and sub- skyrocketing of petrol, diesel and gas seven days for people of three mitted a memorandum to him demanding prices. BJP members tried to climb affected districts. vaccination of livestock during Rout’s removal because of anti-party activ- up to the Speaker’s podium demand- Reviewing the situation the period. ities by him. ing a probe into the alleged sapling with district Collectors of Patnaik also asked the Bishnu Das alleged that Rout has sup- and cooperative bank loan scams. Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Collectors to ensure supply of ported Bapu Parida, a close associate of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Jajpur through a videoconfer- drinking water to the affected arrested gangster Sayed Usman Ali alias Tito. was late by four minutes to reach the ence at the State Secretariat areas. He too directed them to Rout has been continuously making House. Amid protests and sloga- here, Patnaik announced dis- estimate the loss incurred due statements against the party chief, other party neering, Speaker Pradeep Kumar tribution of relief materials for to the floods and submit a leaders and Dalits. His statements are giv- Amat adjourned the House at 10.34 affected people for a week. report within a week. ing a bad name to the party in Jagatsinghpur am till 10.30 am on Tuesday. been successful,” Opposition Chief the Assembly.