The nationwide ‘bandh’ of opposition parties, on a call given by Congress, evoked lukewarm response in Uttarakhand on Monday. In Dehradun the Congress took out a rally and made efforts to close the Paltan Bazaar.
One trader was injured in the scuffle with Congress workers when they were forcefully closing his shop in Dehradun. Barring Clock Tower area all other market places in the rest of the city operated normally.
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Haridwar witnessed mixed response and stray incidents of traders exchanging hot words with Congress leaders took place. Even in the hill districts of Garhwal, the closure failed to make any big impact. No impact of the bandh was registered at Pauri, Chamoli, Tehri and Rudraprayag.
In Uttarkashi, the market observes weekly off on Monday and shops were close there as a routine exercise. Even in Rudepur there was weekly closure of markets. In the rest of Udham Singh Nagar the response was mixed.
Uttarakhand Congress chief Pritam Singh said, “The bandh was successful and we received support from different organisations and sections of the people. The Modi government has miserably filed to control inflation. The diesel and petrol price has touched all time high mark.”
In Pauri, Congress workers took out a procession shouting slogans against the Central government but commercial establishments operated normally. In Kumoan, the bandh had little impact in Haldwani, Nainital, Almora, Champawat, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar.
The BJP termed it a flop show. Party spokesperson Devendra Bhasin said, “The closure failed to get support of the public. Angered by the poor response, Congress leaders applied force for closing shops in Dehradun. Many shopkeepers were thrashed by Congress workers for opposing the effort to close their shops.”