ARA BANDH EVOKED MIXED RESPONSE

ARA BANDH EVOKED MIXED RESPONSE

4-SEP-ENG 16

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------------Ara bandh evoked mixed response in Bhojpur district. Sporadic effect of bandh was seen in Shahpur, Jagdishpur, Ara where the NDA workers came out on the streets with flags and banners since morning and tried to compel the business establishments to down theier shutters. Schools and colleges were opened and vehiles were plying on road normally. The bandh supporters blocked the road near Badi Mathia and did not allow even the ambulance carrying a pregnant woman to the Ara Sadar Hospital who was crying with labour pain. They even dragged a lady teacher when she requested to allow her to go to her school.

In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in Darbhanga containing derogatory comments against his late mother, NDA workers called for a Bihar bandh, which affected normal life in many parts of the state. The effect of the bandh was also seen in many blocks of Bhojpur district, where traffic was disrupted. NDA workers came out on the streets and raised slogans, saying that they would not tolerate insult to the mother. NDA leaders called this statement an attack on the identity of 140 crore Indians, because in India mother is considered equal to goddess. Members of Mahila Morcha also actively participated in the protest and called this comment a taint on the culture of the society.

However, opposition parties termed the NDA bandh as a "political drama" and accused the public of diverting attention from real issues. Political analysts believe that this issue can affect Bihar politics for a long time, because any controversy related to the popularity of Prime Minister Modi has a direct impact on the sentiments of the public. This controversy that started from Darbhanga has now brought about a political upheaval in the state, and it will be interesting to see in which direction it goes in the coming days.

There was chaos in Bihar on Thursday morning, when the effect of this bandh organized from 7 am to 12 noon was clearly visible in many parts of the state. Scattered incidents were also reported. The effect of the bandh was seen in many blocks of Bhojpur district, where there was an atmosphere of chaos on the roads due to traffic disruption. In Shahpur, Jagdishpur, Ara, NDA workers came out on the streets with flags and banners since morning. The workers raised slogans and said that Bihar will not tolerate the insult of the mother.

Although the effect of the bandh was not very deep in Shahpur and Ara city, the situation was quite tense near Jagdishpur Nyaka Tola Over Bridge. There was a long queue of vehicles. NDA leaders say that this is not just an insult to Prime Minister Modi's mother, but it is an attack on the identity of 140 crore Indians.

Active participation of NDA Mahila Morcha was also seen during the bandh. Women leader Sushmalata Kushwaha said that "Using abusive language on a mother, who carries a child in her womb for nine months and nurtures it like God, is like tarnishing the culture of the society." She alleged that this statement of the leaders of the Grand Alliance exposes their thinking and values.

In Shahpur too, the general public had to face a lot of trouble due to this protest. During the bandh, buses and vehicles remained parked on the roads, due to which passengers had to wait for hours. During this time, BJP district vice president Satish Bhatt, Narendra Tiwari, eastern division president Amarnath Rai, Pinku Sah, city president cum 20-point chairman Ankit Pandey, vice president Hiralal Gupta, ward councilor Manoj Paswan, former division president Thakur Dayal Ram, Gonu Pandey, Bunty Pandey, Dharmendra Gupta, women leader and other NDA workers were present.