JOIN USRJD chief Lalu Prasad, former chief minister Rabri Devi and LJP supremo Ram Vilas Paswan were among thousands of protesters detained during the bundh.
The bundh, which saw vandalism, blockade of highways, stoppages of trains, had the support of CPI-ML too. “Roko mahangayee, bandho daam, nahin to hoga chakka jam (Check inflation, fix price, or else we will paralyse movement of everything),” Lalu, in his inimitable style, thundered before courting arrest in Patna.
Lashing out at the Manmohan Singh Government, he said if the UPA-II regime can’t control price rise, it should demit office. At the same time, he slammed his bete noire and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for failing to take action against the hoarders. “If Nitish can’t take action against traders who are hoarding and black-marketing essential commodities, he should make way for us. We will show how price rise will be checked with an iron hand.” said Lalu.