Commuters suffer hike in petrol price

The Bharat bandh called by the BJP, CPI(M) and allied parties opposing the massive hike in petrol price, was a success in Mandya district.

Traffic came to a standstill in the district till evening hours. Some people who were unaware of the bandh and had arrived at the bus stand on Thursday morning, had to suffer since there was no public transport system.

Private transport that had turned costly, had put people into hardship. Most of the shops remained shut and people were barely seen on the roads. 

While BJP activists took out a bike rally, CPI(M) activists urged the government to bring down the price of fuel through their protest march. They rented slogans against the central government. Petrol bunks were closed in the heart of the city. Those who had to travel to other cities, had to rely on lorry, goods vans and other mode of transport to get to their destinations. 

Mandya city

While parts of the district witnessed total bandh, Mandya city was only partially affected by it. Though shops and establishments were closed, and petrol bunks remained shut.

While some farmers did bring vegetables to be sold at the market, there was a shortage of customers. With holiday being declared for schools, teachers and students didn’t venture out. Only few private firms functioned with skeletal staff. Government offices saw waning attendance from later part of the day. 

Passengers who had come into the city, and those who had to travel out, cursed the protestors for all the hardship they had to face, like walking home with luggage in tow.