BJP calls for Delhi bandh on FDI

Corruption and price rise have now become secondary issues before the Opposition parties. With the coalition parties of the UPA government also demanding a roll-back of the cabinet decision on FDI in retail sector, main Opposition party BJP has decided to bring the issue to the streets, outside Parliament.

To protest strongly against the FDI in retail sector, Delhi BJP has called for a bandh on Thursday. The bandh has been called to support the Bharat bandh call given by the traders to protest against the decision of the government for allowing FDI in multi-brand trade from December 1. "The party workers will burn effigies of the Congress government at 20 prominent locations in the Capital to protest against the anti-people decision of the UPA government," said Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta at a press conference in the Capital on Tuesday.

Shops at Lajpat Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Vikas Marg, Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar, Shahadra, New Kondli and Bata Chowk Central Market, Raghubir Nagar Chowk, Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh, and Uttam Nagar are among the prominent markets that will be completely shut. Gupta said the party workers will persuade the traders of Delhi markets to closeu00a0their establishments. The traders at Chandni Chowk have called for a meeting on this issue. Gupta has called upon the people of Delhi to support the bandh.u00a0

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said the decision was taken in the interest of the nation as a whole. He said the move "will bring modern technology to the country, improve rural infrastructure, reduce wastage of agricultural produce and enable farmers to get better prices for their crops... consumers will get commodities of daily use at reduced prices."