Date:02/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/02/stories/2008050253061200.htm

National

It will only be a BJP show

Special Correspondent

NDA alliance parties not to take part in today’s ‘hartal’
BJP does not want protest to affect essential services

NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance call for a general strike on May 2 to protest against rising prices will now be a Bharatiya Janata Party show with its alliance parties — such as the Janata Dal (United), the Akali Dal, the Biju Janata Dal and Shiv Sena — deciding in favour of their own separate party programmes.

Making this clear at a press conference here on Thursday, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar also added that the ‘hartal’ (strike) would be restricted to downing shutters of shops and establishments as “the BJP does not want the protest call to affect essential services or the daily routine of the people.”

Mr. Javadekar made it clear that government servants even in BJP-ruled States will not be encouraged to stay away from office.

In the latter half of April, the BJP had convened a meeting of NDA leaders. President of the Janata Dal (United) Sharad Yadav had stayed away although he was in the capital. After that meeting, the BJP had told the media that the ‘hartal’ call was a decision of the NDA.

The same day, some JD (U) leaders had made it clear that although they would join the human chain programme planned for the Parliament House on April 24, their party would participate in the strike. Later it seems that other NDA parties also decided not to participate in what would be an essentially BJP show.

On Thursday, Mr. Javadekar made it clear that the ‘hartal’ was a BJP party programme. Party leaders and workers would hold demonstrations and form human chains to protest price rise throughout the country.