New Delhi: The July 5 `Bharat Bandh` to
protest fuel price hike is unlikely to get the support of all
non-Congress non-UPA parties with BSP, RJD, LJP and RLD so far
maintaining a silence on which side of the political divide
they are.
In view of the political contradictions, the ruling BSP
in Uttar Pradesh is unlikely to join the bandh, while in
Bihar, the RJD-LJP could stay out as the ruling NDA in the
state supporting the bandh.
Sources in the opposition camp, who are coordinating the
protest programme, said that the possibility of participation
of BSP is unlikely because Samajwadi Party would not like to
be seen together with it in Uttar Pradesh on the same issue.
BSP had bailed out the Central government during the
opposition-sponsored cut motion in the Budget Session of
Parliament.
In Bihar, RJD-LJP is also not enthused to the idea of
joining hands with BJP and JDU as the combine does not want to
be seen on the same page with the ruling alliance.
"We have already declared a separate bandh programme in
the state on July 10," said LJP secretary general Abdul
Khaliq.
RJD had also helped the UPA defeat the opposition cut
motion by staging a walk out from Lok Sabha then. Both RJD and
BSP are supporting the government from outside.
While SP is supporting the government from outside, it
has decided to join the opposition sponsored `Bharat Bandh`
apparently due to the political dynamics of Uttar Pradesh,
where a revived Congress is striving to come to power in the
2012 elections.
The party today claimed that the hike in fuel prices has
brought "warmth" in opposition ties like the one before the
imposition of Emergency in the 70s.
"If the government continues to follow anti-people
policies, the opposition may unite once again," SP
spokesperson Mohan Singh said noting that "a full-fledged
opposition unity is still a far cry."
Ajit Singh`s RLD has also not revealed its cards so far
but the party has been supportive of the Congress in Rajya
Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh last month paving the way
for the victory of former Union Minister Satish Sharma, a
known loyalist of the Gandhi family.
There had also been speculation that the party was trying
to strike a deal with the Congress ahead of the UP assembly
election.
PTI
