The Congress on September 10 organised a Bharat Bandh protesting the repeated and non-stop rise in the prices of oil and petroleum products. The strike was unnecessary and unwarranted. This bandh culture should come to an end with immediate effect.

                   Political parties observe bandhs maintaining that they go for it for the benefit of the common citizens. This is an absolute bunkum. No bandh benefits the people. Rather it badly affects the citizens particularly the poorer section. The latest bandh sponsored by the Congress reflected across the country how the common people suffer during such strikes.

                   In Bihar, a two year old infant died reportedly due to activities of hooligans and congress supporters on the streets during the bandh. Anti-socials roaming freely on the roads were seen damaging the vehicles of the people who had ventured out during the strike for urgent works. Congress goons were seen forcing the citizens to participate in the bandh. These are Taliban tendencies. Such activities are not acceptable in a civilised and democratic society.

                   Now the subject for which the recent pan India strike was called. The hike in the prices of oil and petroleum products was due to increase in the prices of crude in the international market. The Indian government has no control over it.

                  Yes the Centre and the state governments can reduce the tax and various duties they collect on petroleum products. But they may not be able to do much on this front. For, they need money for the freebies the governments distribute to gain votes. All political parties are involved in this game. And the Congress is the party which had introduced the freebie culture in the country.

                 In this contest, one remembers the famous statement once made by former Congress prime minister Manmohan Singh – money does not grow on trees. Unfortunately in this country many including a section of the common citizens as well as political leaders believe that the Centre and the state governments own plants on their backyards that delivers money like fruits and vegetables.

                 Common citizens can handle the crisis relating to oil price increase in many ways. For example they can use public transport system more rather than depending on their personal vehicles – car and two wheelers etc. Nation building is possible only through cooperation of all – politicians, bureaucrats, judiciary, the fourth estate as well as common citizens. No nation can build itself properly if it adopts an undemocratic method like bandh.