There is a nationwide strike today (September 20, 2012) across India (literally Bharat is Bandh - India is closed). The opposition parties led by main opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hold the nationwide strike demanding a rollback in the recent decision of government to hike diesel prices, cap subsidized cooking gay cylinders and allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
Along with BJP-led NDA others parties supporting the Bandh (strike) are Samajwadi Party, Communist Party (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Telugu Dasham Party (TDP), Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Janata Dal (Secular), All India Forward Block and the RSP. The workers of these parties have blocked rail traffic at various places including Allahabad, Patna, Kanpur and Kolkata. The workers are planning to organise picketing, demonstrations and court arrest. However, the trio of Mamata, Maya and Jaya have opposed the Bandh.
In Bihar the workers of BJP has blocked the rail movement in the state capital Patna and other parts of the state. There is a mixed response of Bandh in Seemanchal region especially in the districts of Kishanganj, Katihar, Araria and Purnia. The rail passengers as well as bus commuters are facing difficulties in many parts of the country as the rail tracks / roads are blocked.
