The July 5 bandh across India has some hidden messages we need to know. The message is: the country is rather tired of the price spiral which has remained quite high for a long spell, and that the explanation that petroleum product prices have to be upped because the marketing companies were losing on every bit sold and subsidies were adding to the deficits does not seem to go down well. The pocket is pinching and that counts. Another message is that prices are the most sensitive issue insofar as the people are concerned and that if there were to be elections, perhaps the government of the day would come close to losing, if not lose it entirely.
Significantly, two Congress-led states, Maharashtra and Rajasthan have witnessed successful bandhs as did the ones where the NDA components rule. That should explain why people are seen against price rise but not happily disposed towards any political party. Because, these parties don’t find answers, they find excuses, and causes to take to the streets. What they cannot resolve in the parliament is sought to be expressed on the streets, though there are ways of doing business in that forum more effectively. Is it any wonder then that spite and venom is poured on politicians? This is the biggest message from the bandh. It has better be read and understood.
Mohd Ziyaullah Khan
Nagpur, M’rashtra