Congress calls for Dehradun bandh on 30th December

The Congress party have called for a Dehradun Bandh on 30th December as a protest against the price rise of commodities. Besides ensuring that shops, barring medical stores, are shut, the party would also hold protests in different parts of the state capital to “spread its message”. However, to ensure minimum inconvenience to the common man, all shops will be opened after 4 pm.
The Congress also aims to bring up the issue of BJP-run Dehradun Municipal Corporation’s decision to levy “exorbitant commercial tax” on city businessmen. The party says that this a deliberate move to extract heavy taxes from small-scale businessmen.
Dehradun Congress president Prithviraj Chauhan told TOI, “In the last few days, many traders and businessmen have approached us through our trade cell. They have unanimously expressed their desire to participate in the protest as they are disappointed with high prices of essential commodities.”
No cut in petrol prices is another issue on the party’s agenda which says that while oil prices have gone down in the international market, its rates haven’t been lowered in India.
“Due to rise in vegetable and pulse prices, hotel and dhaba owners have only two options left: either to suffer losses or to sell food items at higher rates. They have claimed that customers often object to expensive food items,” said Chauhan.
Several teams of Congress’ trade cell have been instructed to contact traders in different areas of Dehradun so that they can be encouraged to take part in the protest. “Earlier, we had organised events like ‘arhar pe charcha’, but it failed to draw the Union government’s attention. Hence, we have decided to hold a Dehradun bandh this time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand BJP chief Teerath Singh Rawat lambasted the ruling party for being “opportunistic”. “City traders had already called for a strike on December 30. The Congress is merely using this opportunity to gain popularity. And as far as price rise is concerned, a state always has an option to provide relief to its people. If they are so concerned, why don’t they hold a Dehradun shutdown on 29 or 31 December?”