MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena Sunday spurned Congress ' request to participate in the Bharat Bandh called Monday by the latter against rising prices of petroleum products.Speaking to reporters here, Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan said he had made the request to Sena. "It is not just the Congress but NCP , MNS, Samajwadi Party and others too are supporting the bandh," he said at the press conference. "We expect Shiv Sena to support it. I have personally spoken to (Sena Rajya Sabha MP) Sanjay Raut about coming out in the open against the price hike, but we are still waiting for their response," Chavan informed.Responding to the Congress' request, Raut said Sena won't participate in the bandh. "The opposition should show their unity. The Sena is looking at the bandh neutrally," he said. "This issue (price hike of petroleum products) has affected the common man to a large extent. There is lot of discontent among people regarding it," Chavan said.The Congress leader said that with the rise in prices of petroleum products, the government was trying to take money out of the common man's pockets.Chavan said his party was in favour of petroleum products coming under GST , but till then, central excise duty and other taxes, which he said is the reason for the price hike, should be reduced. "There is talk about petrol and diesel being brought under GST. We will appreciate that, but until it is implemented, we demand that central excise duty and other tax levied by the Central and state governments should be immediately reduced," he said.The Raj Thackeray led MNS Sunday announced it was supporting the bandh. In a statement, Thackeray said MNS will not only back but also actively participate in the bandh.<doc-sep>Sanjay Nirupam holds meetings with traders, Ashok Chavan urges people to participate in protest A day after Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam appealed to the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to support the party’s call for Bharat bandh on Monday, in protest against the rising fuel prices, the MNS on Sunday confirmed its participation. MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, “Petrol and diesel prices have skyrocketed, and the common man is in anguish. To protest the hike, all parties have declared a bandh. The MNS extends its full support and will actively participate in it.” He asked his activists to ensure no public property is damaged and the common man doesn’t suffer. “We should ensure success of this bandh, so that the government in Delhi realises the mistakes it has committed,” he said. MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar appealed to the people to participate in the protest by not stepping out of office till 5 p.m. The Sena, which is a part of the government, has decided to stay away. The party’s Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, said, “The Sena does not support the bandh. Opposition parties seem to have woken up late. They are welcome to protest and when they are unsuccessful, we’ll hit the streets.” However, posters put up by the Sena near its headquarters in Dadar criticised the BJP over its promise to bring acchhe din. The posters showed the prices of gas, diesel, and petrol in 2015 as ₹572.50, ₹52.99, and ₹64.60 and compared them with the current prices: ₹764.50, ₹75.74, and ₹86.72. A Sena leader said the party did not want to protest now as it was the festival season. Mr. Nirupam on Sunday held meetings with traders in western suburbs, while Congress State unit chief Ashok Chavan urged people to participate in the bandh. While parties have clarified there will be no violent agitations, activists are likely to block roads, trains. The bandh has received support from the NCP, Peasants and Workers Party, MNS, Left Front, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, the Samajwadi Party and the Republican Party factions headed by Jogendra Kawade and Rajendra Gawai. The government, at the time of writing this report, had not issued an advisory to schools in the State.<doc-sep>Bharat Bandh LATEST updates: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut dismissed talks of senior BJP leaders asking his party to stay away from the nationwide bandh called by the Congress to protest the rising prices of fuel. Auto refresh feeds The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) ruling in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana respectively, are also not supporting the call. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), a non-NDA party, said although it is against the fuel price hike, it will not support the Bandh. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took a similar stand in Delhi. Congress will kickstart its protests on Monday at 8 am from Rajghat. The bandh is being supported by 21 Opposition parties under Congress leadership, said party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi. He also added that Congress will sit in a peaceful dharna against rising fuel prices, draconian policies, falling rupee and Rafale deal. A verified user, Akash Jain, who is also followed by the prime minister, said: "Dear Congress, try how much ever you want to break the nation, India knows the truth. I'll work 1 hour extra tomorrow." A few of those, who are hold anti-Opposition stand and are against the Bharat bandh called by the Congress, posted that they would work an extra hour to protest against the nationwide shutdown and express their support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Five people were detained after Congress and Left supporters tried to stop Agniveena Express at Durgapur (West Bengal). They were chased away by the local police and Government Railway Police. They were detained after a minor scuffle while the train service has resumed, according to News18. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has reportedly joined the protests at Rajghat, where other top Congress leaders including Ashok Gehlot, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Abhishek Manu Singhvi arrived earlier. Reports also suggested that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh will also join the stir later. While the Nationalist Congress Party and Maharashtra Navanirman Sena in the state have extended their support to the Bharat bandh called by Congress, the BJP ally Shiv Sena will not be participating in the shutdown but will look at it "neutrally", reported The Indian Express . "There is talk about petrol and diesel being brought under GST. We will appreciate that, but until it is implemented, we demand that central excise duty and other tax levied by the Central and state governments should be immediately reduced," the report quoted Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut as saying. Kerala is observing the bandh as hartal (shutdown strike) in view of the court ban on bandhs. However, the hartal has turned into a total bandh with both the ruling and Opposition Congress-led fronts supporting the hartal. There has been strong demand for exempting the state from the protest in view of the devastating floods. However, both the fronts ignored the pleas and urged their workers to observe the hartal without affecting the flood relief works. The shutdown strike affected relief activities in the flood devastated areas in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. Though the district administration in Ernakulam had directed all employees to attend office, the attendance was very thin in Aluva and Paravur areas, which were devastated by the flood. Employees could not come to the office in the absence of public transport. The people also could not get the service of volunteers, who were involved in cleaning the flood ravaged houses due to the hartal. Shops and business establishments also remained closed in both Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. Economist Rupa Subramanya pointed out on Twitter that while BJP supporters pick on Karnataka's Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel, Maharashtra, a BJP-ruled state, levied the highest VAT at 39.12 percent followed by another BP-ruled state Madhya Pradesh at 36 percent. According to ABP News , Mumbai Congress president has been arrested during protests at the Andheri railway station in the city. Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan was also arrested along with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Monday morning at the Andheri railway station. The duo have reportedly been taken to DN Nagar police station. Chavan, earlier, was part of the rail roko at the Andheri station. Calling the Narendra Modi-government 'despotic', former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Monday asked a united Opposition to keep aside their differences and work together to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party government, which has 'failed to fulfill promises', reported News18. "Public is tired and angry; farmers are upset; youth is disturbed. There are no jobs," he said. Tourists could not visit Konark Sun Temple today due to Bharat Bandh. Congress members locked the ticket counters. They protested in front of the temple. In Cochin, Bharat bandh turned into a 12-hour hartal. It's almost a complete shutdown, particularly on the roads. The private vehicles plying on the streets are mostly two-wheelers. The Congress conducted protests at many locations and minor arguments were reported in some places. Most shops and offices remain closed. Attendance at government offices was very less at 9.30 am though few are expected to come by 10.30-11 am. Turning toward the media, Rahul retorted and said that, "I know you guys (the media) are living under the fear of writing the truth. But don't worry, the nation stands with you." Leading the Congress march in New Delhi and spearheading the nationwide Bharat Bandh, Rahul Gandhi addressed the workers and slammed the Narendra Modi government for lacking empathy for the poor. Reiterating his point on BJP supporting industrialists, Rahul said, "India is tired of Narendra Modi. He does not care for farmers or the poor, he cares for section of industrialists." Slamming the government for hike in prices of petrol, diesel and gas, Rahul said, "A gas cylinder which used to cost Rs 400 is now Rs 800. Modiji is silent on the matters important to the youth." Addressing Congress and Opposition workers and the media in New Delhi, Rahul attacked the BJP government for being anti-poor. Alleging that the prime minister only cares for his "industrialist friends", Rahul said, "Modiji said that what didn't happen in 70 years, we will do in 4 years. Wherever he goes, he just goes to sow division." Congress workers led by former minister KN Tripathi came in support of Bharat Bandh called to protest fuel price hike in Palamu district of Jharkhand. The bandh has evoked mixed response in Palamu so far. He said some routes of MLAs, ministers were diverted earlier to ensure their hassle free entry to the state assembly which was in session today. Anoop Kumar Sahoo, DCP, Commissionarate Police, Bhubaneswar said in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack there had been no case of untoward incidents, security had been tightened and the arrests of protesters were preventive arrests. Two-year-old child died in Patna due to delay in treatment. According reports, road blockades erected in various parts of the city have disrupted movement within the city. At least ​1,879 protesters have been taken into preventive detention till 11 am on Monday in Jharkhand. The protesters were demonstrating at the Bharat bandh called by Congress and supported by Opposition parties protesting petrol price hike. Protesters and blockades on National Highway 16 was cleared partially as the bandh weakened after detention of some of the leaders. Reports have said that "power-packed" agitation was over during the early morning hours. JVM(P) workers took out rally on a bullock cart in Bokaro district of Jharkhand in support of Bharat Bandh called by Congress to protest fuel price hike. However, private bus operators supported the bandh today while KSRTC buses were plying as usual. Private vehicles, autos and taxis are also running as usual. All government offices, banks and post offices remain open. However, the Congress and JDS have said they will organise a separate protest in Madikeri against the hike in fuel prices. Kodagu District Congress Committee president C Shivu Madappa released a statement about the district unit's decision to not support the bandh. He said Kodagu had incurred losses of more than Rs 10,000 crores during the recent floods and landslide, which has caused a lot of distress to the people here.<doc-sep>
Politics makes for strange bedfellows. Shiv Sena Bharat Bandh BJP Congress Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan told reporters that he had made the request to Sena. "It is not just the Congress but NCP, MNS , Samajwadi Party and others too are supporting the bandh," he said. "We expect Shiv Sena to support it. I have personally spoken to (Sena Rajya Sabha MP) Sanjay Raut about coming out in the open against the price hike, but we are still waiting for their response." Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan told reporters that he had made the request to Sena. "It is not just the Congress but NCP,, Samajwadi Party and others too are supporting the bandh," he said. "We expect Shiv Sena to support it. I have personally spoken to (Sena Rajya Sabha MP) Sanjay Raut about coming out in the open against the price hike, but we are still waiting for their response." When quizzed by reporters, Raut said Sena won't participate in the bandh. "The opposition should show their unity. The Sena is looking at the bandh neutrally," he said. When quizzed by reporters, Raut said Sena won't participate in the bandh. "The opposition should show their unity. The Sena is looking at the bandh neutrally," he said. Mumbai on September 9.) Comparatively, diesel cost Rs 52.99 per litre in 2015 and now costs Rs 75.74 per litre, the poster said. The poster by Shiv Sena The poster by Yuva Sena the country. It says that in 2015, petrol cost Rs 64.60 per litre but now, it costs Rs 86.72. (Petrol price touched an all-time high rate of Rs 87.89 per litre inon September 9.) Comparatively, diesel cost Rs 52.99 per litre in 2015 and now costs Rs 75.74 per litre, the poster said. Another poster by Yuva Sena On the other hand, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray issued a statement on Sunday confirming that his party will not just support the bandh but also actively participate in it as "the common man is in deep anguish" due to the "skyrocketing" prices. "The country's policies cannot be based on the whims and fancies of one person," he wrote. On the other hand, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray issued a statement on Sunday confirming that his party will not just support the bandh but also actively participate in it as "the common man is in deep anguish" due to the "skyrocketing" prices. "The country's policies cannot be based on the whims and fancies of one person," he wrote. MNS to support Bharat Bandh on September 10, confirms Raj Thackeray Congress and other Opposition parties called for the bandh to protest the recent rise in fuel prices and inflation. Congress and the NCP recently requested MNS and Shiv Sena -- the latter is an ally of the ruling party BJP at the state level -- to support the bandh. Thehas officially stated that it will neither support nor oppose the call for aon September 10. And yet, posters around the city, including one outside Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, mock the's slogan of 'acche din' by comparing the fuel prices in 2015 to the current prices.The Shiv Sena is an ally of the ruling BJP party at the state level and at the Centre. Whenand other Opposition parties decided to protest against the rising fuel prices by calling for a Bharat Bandh on Monday, they reached out to both Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena to ensure the bandh is a success.And yet, Sena posters say otherwise. The poster makes a joke out of the BJP's slogan of bringing 'acche din' to