The BJD’s five-hour ‘Hak Pain Hartal’ from 7 am to 12 noon on Monday protesting the hike in fuel prices by the Centre threw normal life out of gear in the State.
All the schools and business establishments remained closed. Most of the Government offices and banks recorded low attendance till afternoon.
Though the party claimed observance of a ‘peaceful’ hartal, many BJD activists were seen staging road blockade in various towns of the State by burning tyres thereby disrupting vehicular movement.
Train services were also affected as party workers squatted on the tracks at several railway stations. Bus and other vehicles remained off the road at several places putting the commuters in great inconvenience.
Several BJD workers were seen stopping commuters at different junctions. School children and office-goers were the worst sufferers in the strike as protesters blocked roads in the State capital and other parts of the State.
On the other hand, the State Government issued an advisory to close all schools and colleges in view of the hartal. Schools scheduled to hold examinations on the day have been asked to conduct the same on an alternative date.
BJD general secretary Sanjay Dasburma said, “The BJD has taken to streets today against the fuel price hike imposed on consumers by the Petroleum Ministry at a time when the price of crude oil has decreased in the international market.”
“The consumers are suffering while private oil companies in the country are raking in crores,” he added.
While the international crude price has fallen, the NDA Government has failed to take steps to reduce the price of petrol and diesel, BJD spokesperson Prasanna Acharya said.
later, party spokesperson Prashant Nanda said the hartal has been fully successful with the voluntary participation of people.