The Shiv Sena on Monday took a jibe at opposition parties, stating their nationwide bandh against the rising fuel prices should not look like a sudden act undertaken after waking up from a "long sleep". The BJP's bickering ally said it has been carrying the burden of opposition parties on its shoulders for long and it now wants to see where these outfits stand on pro-people issues.

"We have been carrying the burden of opposition leaders so far and we now want to see the strength of the opposition. People's interests are protected when opposition parties perform (their duty) with efficiency," the Sena said in an editorial published in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'. The Marathi daily said people may ask the Sena where it stands on the issue of joining the 'Bharat Bandh' called Monday by the Congress to protest the rising prices of petrol and diesel and supported by several opposition parties.