Coastal Karnataka gears up for another 'Bharat Bundh'

Mangalore, May 30: The leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party and have determined to ensure a successful Bharat Bundh' on Thursday following a nationwide strike call given by Opposition parties in the Centre in protest against petrol price hike was successful in the region.

BJP Yuva Morcha workers were seen on Wednesday evening distributing anti-Congress pamphlets across the city and urging people to join hands with them to teach a lesson to anti-people government.

“We spent a couple of hours in creating awareness among public today. We distributed pamphlet and appealed the people to make tomorrow's Bundh successful”, said BJP Yuva Morcha leader Raghavendra. He said several contingents of Yuva Morcha workers visited shops and hotels across the city and also met auto-rickshaw drivers.

"The workers of BJP will be out on the roads to ensure that people's voice is heard by the Central Government", said DK district BJP president Padmanabha Kottari.

Mr Kottari said: "We want this bandh to be peaceful but we will ensure that people are allowed to convey their feeling of utter disappointment with the way the central government is managing the economy. If the prices of petrol are much lower in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, why are we made to pay such high prices?"

He said: "People are fed up with inflation. Not just petrol but prices of food and other essentials are going thru the roof. We will ensure that the union government gets the message. We have appealed to all shops and businesses to stay shut on Thursday."

Protest

Meanwhile, leaders of Left parties in coastal Karnataka have planned to join the nationwide protest against fuel price hike. “We are not going to impose “Bharat Bundh”. Instead, we will observe nationwide protest day”, said DYFI leader Muneer Katipalla.

He said that activists of Left parties would block train at Mangalore Central Railway Station at 9:00 am on Thursday.