Bharat Bandh for prices of petroleum products: Normal life unaffected in TN

Normal life remained unaffected in Tamil Nadu as the Bharat bandh, called by the major opposition parties led by the Congress, to protest against the spiralling prices of petroleum products, evoked little response on Monday.

Police sources said untoward incidents were reported in the State as the dawn-to-dusk bandh, began this morning, with 16 organisations voicing their support for the shut down.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements in view of the bandh across the state.

Reports from various parts of the State said normal life was not affected in view of the bandh, with the government taking all precautionary measures to ensure all essential services reached the public.

Shops and business establishments remained open, buses and public transport buses plied as usual, schools, colleges and educational institutions, functioned normally.

All essential services like medical, electricity, milk and other services were maintained as usual.

The State and Central government offices, banks and other commercial establishments functioned as usual. The business was also normal at the wholesale flower, vegetable and fruit markets at Koyambedu in the city.

However, inter-state bus services to neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka, where the bandh had its effect, was operated only up to the Tamil Nadu border as a precautionary measure.

The bandh brought together a large number of political parties under the Congress' umbrella.

Several associations, including the Tamil Nadu Sand and lorry owners association also pledged their support to the bandh.

Almost all political parties in the State, except the ruling AIADMK and the BJP, pledged their support to the bandh.

Apart from the principal opposition DMK, other parties including the CPI(M), CPI, VCK, MDMK, Tamil Maanila Congress led by former Shipping Minister G K Vasan, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi and Social Democratic Party of India pledged their support to the bandh.