Maharashtra: #BandhOnMonday is ‘people’s protest’

Sanjay Raut

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has assured that essential and emergency services will not be affected during the MVA-sponsored state-wide bandh on Monday. The MVA has given a call for agitation in solidarity with the farmers, who were allegedly murdered in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh. The Maharashtra Cabinet passed a resolution expressing regret about the deaths last week and the ruling MVA - the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress - gave a call for a state bandh on October 11.

Party spokespersons, state minister Nawab Malik (NCP), Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) and Sachin Sawant (Congress) told media persons that the workers have been instructed to not disturb the essential and emergency services. They appealed to people to join the protest voluntarily and peacefully. The bandh has been supported by all other non-BJP parties and farmer fronts affiliated with the left organisations. "This will be a people's protest. We are just messengers," said Raut, asking the BJP to mend its ways. Sawant wanted Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra, who is father of the accused Ashish Mishra in the case, to resign from the ministry. "His son is accused of killing the farmers. He must resign," Sawant said.

We can't afford to go on bandh after two lockdowns: Traders

Even as the MVA government has appealed to people to join Monday's bandh, businessman and traders, who are still recovering from the losses incurred during the Coronavirus-induced lockdowns, have decided against joining the agitation. Speaking with mid-day, Bhimji Bhanushali, general secretary of the Grains, Rice and Seeds Merchant's Association said that though they were told to shut down the APMC market on Monday, they will not participate in the bandh. "We cannot afford to keep our shops shut during the festive season." Mitesh Modi, who is general secretary, Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade, and president, Oil India Electronics Association, said that most sectors like hospitality, and tours and travels, are still struggling to run their businesses. "Many businessmen have shut down their businesses and are now working in other sectors. This is the Navratri festival season; if we join the protest, it's going to affect our businesses." Many shopkeepers, on condition of anonymity, told mid-day that if they are forcefully asked to shut down the shops, they will have no other option, but to toe the government's line.

- Rohit Parikh