BJP bandh against price rise evokes lukewarm response

Bhubaneswar, May 2 (UNI) A six-hour bandh call given by the BJP in protest against the price rise today evoked lukewarm response in Orissa.

Except in Sundergarha and Sambalpur, the bandh received little response from other districts as most of the shops and commercial establishments were open.

The BJP had given the call to close the shops and commercial establishments from 0600 hours to 1200 hours as a mark of protest against the rise in prices of essential commodities.

Elsewhere in the country the party is observing a 12-hour bandh.

A report received here from Sambalpur said shops and commercial establishments, banks and the LIC office were closed.

Businessmen also downed their shutters in Sundergarh, Hemgiri and Lafripada towns.

In Rourkela more than 50 per cent of the shops remained open.

Some BJP activists took out a rally urging the shopkeepers to down shutters.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil through the ADM, demanding steps to control the price rise.

A report from Baripada said almost all shops were open and the bandh had no impact in the day-to-day business.

Similarly, in Berhampur and Balasore, almost all shops were open. The BJP supporters organised a rally and submitted a memorandum to the President through the RDC against the price rise.

A general meeting organised jointly by the BJP and BJD against the price rise was scheduled to be held in the evening.

Except in a few places, almost all shops were open in the twin cities of Cuttack abd Bhubaneswar.

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