According to reports, a 2-year old girl died in the ambulance in Bihar due to blockade caused during Bharat Bandh on Monday. This is very unfortunate and makes you wish against this form of protest that disrupts the public services. (Notably, following the incident, political parties got busy in their low-lows, with BJP asking answers from the Congress for the girl’s death. If only they can answer for 100+ deaths caused by failed demonetization. Nonetheless.)

I, personally, am in favor of the idea of ‘Bharat Bandh’ ONLY on few important issues like petrol price, farmers and rape cases. (Excuse me for sounding selective!) However, I am totally against the “hit street” protests that usually follow in such kind of bandhs. Disrupting (and destroying) public services is never right, irrespective of why you’re protesting. No one has the right to force others into the demonstration and cause them any kind of problem.

Talking about the Bharat Bandh on Monday, it was a much-needed measure to voice the opinion and showcase a strong opposition against the government and its incompetency in controlling fuel price. In Maharashtra, the petrol price has already breached Rs 90. Other states are inching closer to that mark. From Rs 60 to Rs 90—REALLY?! it’s a form of oppression for those economically marginalized.

Taking a stand against this is extremely important—for both economic and political reason. It’s time the government takes important measures to control the sky-rocketing price of fuel. They simply cannot hide behind the policies of RBI to keep a check on the inflation rate. Bharat Bandh on Monday was supposedly a protest appeal to demand BJP to take back the rising fuel price.

As for the political reason, this demonstration from Congress and other parties, along with the common people, was significant to underline a strong nation-wide opposition ahead of general election 2019. Remember the protests BJP did back in the days in 2013 against high fuel price? Today, it was about making a political statement against an incompetent government.

Indeed, a bandh cost plenty and isn’t very rewarding. However, even then, going this extreme end was necessary not solely for the high petrol price but also its cascading effect on the inflation that can burden the people living on the marginal end.

So, I did support Bharat Bandh on Monday. But I was against any form of violence and disruption of public services.And the people who took the street and caused commotion should be punished. In this matter, West Bengal paved the right way for the rest of the country. While the ruling government (TMC) supported the protest against high fuel price, it ensured the normal life isn’t disrupted and public utilities run smooth.

Sidenote: if you forgot to what extent did BJP went in 2013 to stand against high fuel price, here’s ‘Friday Flashback’ by Ravish Kumar to re-sprinkle your memory-