Hazaribagh town remained closed on the issue of indiscriminate increase in holding tax on Wednesday. Though the call of Hazaribagh bandh was given by a group of youths led by the assembly segment in-charge of AJSU Pradeep Prasad but on Wednesday the denizens chose to keep the shutters of their shops and organizations down without any request or fear.
The bandh was so effective that even those who had given the call looked amazed and they had no words other than “thanks” for the people of Hazaribagh.
On Wednesday morning people came out in the streets as usual and started waiting to see what others are doing. No one opened their shops and even the daily vegetable market of Hazaribagh remained closed all through the day which has never happened as per the memory of old citizens of the town.
The market remained closed not only in the main areas of the town but also in the remote areas of the town. Even the small vendors who use to sell items on rickshaws and other movable vehicles openly supported the band call and remained away from the streets.
Though the essential services and government offices remained open as usual but private organizations closed their premises before noon to support the cause. People were openly criticizing the government’s decision to lodge FIR against those elected ward councilors who are opposing this decision and to start the process of cancelation of their membership, as stated by the executive officer of Municipal Corporation two days ago.
It was discussed that there is some error at any point specially in case of Hazaribagh because 6-10 times hike in holding tax has been calculated by the agency for those holdings whose owners have submitted their papers. This correspondent is also amazed when more than 8 times hike in his holding tax was calculated by an employee of the agency while the claim is of minimum two times and maximum 3.5 times hike.