Although I am very much against strikes, bandhs, agitations as these do not lead to any conclusions except harassment to the public and monetary loss to the nation. It is an act of foolishness. The loss of Rs.13000 crores, on account of recent Bharat Bandh,on 5th July, 2010, is not a small amount and this much amount could establish an industrial project to give employment to number of jobless.
Going by the government side, the fuel prices have been raised because international fuel prices have been going up and under recovery was funded by the government as a direct subsidy. The subsidies were going up and the government had to raise prices to reduce the subsidy bill. Such solution is going to show the results in a few years, if we do not start now on these lines.
The recent bandh was against the rise in price of petrol and diesel and let the people sacrifice by stop using the vehicles for a week’s time to teach a lesson to the oil companies and compelling them to reduce the price.
What to say about the loss of the nation, the organizers did not think even about the loss to the daily bread-earners. Pressurizing for bandh is not at all desirable. The real impact could have been seen by simply giving a call. In fact, the common man is not in favor of bandhs. If at all, the opposition wants to agitate, there are other ways, like fast, fast unto death, peace march etc.
What I feel is that it is an election stunt by the opposition. The loss due to bandh in terms of money can be made up with the passage of time but the loss of lives in certain cases cannot be compensated. These bandhs should be stopped for ever.
