Rajasthan bandh called by the State BJP on Saturday against CBI’s charge-sheet implicating its leader in the Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria, evoked a spontaneous response. Markets in all the major cities remained close. The impact of the bandh was also seen in the smaller towns, according to reports reaching the State headquarters.
State BJP general secretary Satish Punia claimed that the bandh was complete as people wanted to show their resentment against the CBI and the Congress Government in the State. It also shows that people want to throw out the Congress Government in the coming Assembly elections and to bring the BJP back to power, he said.
The BJP only two days back had called for the Rajasthan bandh, but its leadership ensured that the bandh was successful. It had sent its senior party leaders to the districts to work with local party unit for the bandh.
In the State capital, BJP teams of workers were seen moving in the walled city to persuade the shopkeepers to shut their business establishments.
It was an interesting sight when the State BJP president and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had a rickshaw ride from Chandpole to Bari Chopar in the walled city. She was accompanied by senior party leaders and a large group of party workers.
Keeping in view the ongoing wedding season, the BJP had called the bandh till 4 pm so there should not be any hardship for those who are having wedding celebrations in their families. At the same time, Ajmer was kept out of the bandh owing to annual Urs of Khawaja Moinduddin Chisti. The BJP also kept away essential services from the bandh.
Being second Saturday, the Government offices were closed and at the same time school holidays had started, which increased the impact of the bandh. Very few public vehicles were seen plying in the city. As mercury crossed 40 degrees, people preferred to stay back in their homes.