Bandh against Amarnath land fiasco a massive success

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi

The saffron brigade sponsored nationwide bandh against the decision of Jammu & Kashmir Government; cancelling order to land allotment to the authorities of Shree Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for development of facilities for pilgrims drew a spontaneous as well as massive support in Jharkhand.

Reports coming from different district headquarters indicate normal life came to a standstill. If deserted roads, vehicles out of road, very thin presence of employees in the office, harried commuters and disrupted rail and bus services and the presence of saffron brigades are taken as a benchmark than Thursday's bandh deserves to be written as a historic one.

In Ranchi scores of BJP, RSS and VHP activists led by Arjun Munda along with the State president of party Pasupati Nath Singh, district president of party Gama Singh and Ganeshilal disrupted traffic at Albert Ekka Chawk and courted arrest.

The activists made massive demonstration at Firayalal Chawk and held procession. According to the police sources a total of 159 arrests were made by afternoon while it was more than 508 workers who courted arrest, according to the claim of the party.

They were released later on. Arrests were reported from Namkum area where the saffron brigades tried to stage dharna on the road. Ranchi bore a deserted look as all shops, schools, petrol pumps as well as cinema halls remained closed.

It seems that the call for bandh was reciprocated by the general public since no incidence of scuffle or forceful closure were reported barring some sporadic cases at Hariom Tower, Kuchary Chawk, Ratu road and Bahu Bazaar.

However no such disturbance in the rail traffic was reported in the State capital but the commuters were left stranded. Activists burnt tyres at different main roads of Ranchi and staged dharna in front of the Birsa stadium.

As far as the presence of employees in banks is concerned the band made a very light effect. However the SBI branch of Ashoka Nagar, road no. three had to stop its work for a while as activists are reported to have requested the bank to close down shutter as a mark of their solidarity. In view of the call for bandh, the State police made elaborate security arrangements. In Ranchi two companies of Jharkhand Arm Police were pressed in service while similar arrangements were made for other districts of the town, said RK Mullik, spokesperson, Jharkhand Police.

The reports from Dhanbad confirm the arrest of 67 band activists while Mumbai Mail and Rajdhani Express were tried to be detained. In Jamshedpur, few cases of moderate clash between police and activists were reported while nearly 1000 were arrested. The activists also tried to stop Barbil Jansatabadi and Tata Patna for some times. At Mango and Bistupur roads were tried to be blocked which was cleared later on.

The police made heavy bandobast in the Muslim dominated areas like Rani Kudar, Shastrinagar, Azad Basti and Dhatkidih. Although school going kids had to face problem since no vehicle was plying on the road.

In Bokaro, it was matched by a total shut down of shops nearly paralysing the life as no long and short route vehicles plied. Activists at Balidih area learnt to have kept the high way NH 23 blocked for few hours. Bermo too witnessed a total bandh including post office, schools and colleges as the BJP activists fanned in the area from early in the morning.

Former MP of BJP Ravindra Kumar Panday who led the bandh claimed that it would change the course of the future politics of nation as well as Jharkhand.While attacking the UPA and J&K Government for playing with the sentiments of the Hindu community, Arjun Munda said that Amarnath episode would prove the last nail in the coffin of UPA Government which was taking all such non sense and anti- national decisions to stay in power.

Elated over the mass support during bandh he said, "history repeated itself again after 18 years when Advani was arrested and kept at Masanjore and the agitation that time was matched with same vox populi. Band would prove to be last rite for UPA if it does not revert its decision."While terming the bandh as a sign of the solidarity of the Hindu community, Deopujari, Prant Sanchalak, RSS expressed his gratitude towards common men and business community and said that it again revived the nationalistic forces.

The message is louder and clear that people would not allow the Government to play in the hand of separatist forces.