The Hindu : Good response to BJP bandh in M.P.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 22, 2002

Other States

Other States - Madhya Pradesh

Good response to BJP bandh in M.P.

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL DEC. 21. Shops and business establishments remained closed here and across other cities in Madhya Pradesh today on a call by the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party to protest against the ongoing power crisis and increase in the tariff.

Shopkeepers and traders kept their shutters down in the commercial districts of old as well as new city. Since it was also a Government holiday (third Saturday), the roads were deserted. The bandh was total.

The BJP had given the bandh call against the latest increase in power tariff by the State Electricity Board. The ruling party members were of the opinion that the State Government had taken the sting out of any opposition against the tariff hike from the BJP side since the State Cabinet had already approved additional subsidy to the tune of over Rs. 150 crores for maintaining the existing tariff for the farm sector and those consuming less than 50 units a month in the urban areas.

Most shopkeepers complained that they had been burdened with massive power bills with high tariff that had been fixed for the commercial establishments. The exorbitant bills notwithstanding, their major problem is linked with the long spells of unscheduled power cuts that last several hours each day, the traders pointed out. Those from the service sector, who operate public call offices (PCOs) or run photo-copying establishments and internet cafes were the worst-affected.

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Good response to BJP bandh in M.P.