NDA ready to strike

The nationwide strike called by the National Democratic Alliance [NDA] and supported by many other parties is all set to escalate political tension further on the issues of allowing foreign direct investment [FDI] in multi-brand retail, diesel price hike and putting a cap on subsidised cooking gas cylinders.

'Roll back kora ya phir bori bistar pack karo [Either rollback [the decisions] or pack your bags],' said the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday. The BJP leader added that the government will be forced to withdraw decisions on the FDI in multi brand retail, coal block allocation, diesel price hike and limiting cooking gas cylinders per family. 

Apart from the NDA, the Samajwadi Party will also participate in the bandh. 'This government is corrupt and anti-people. We are against this government,' said the party leader Kiranmoy Nanda. What has put the government on the back-foot is that the parties that support the government from outside are taking part in the strike. Moreover, the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam [DMK], which is a part of the government, has also announced that it will participate in the bandh.       

The DMK president M Karunanidhi had asked his party members on Tuesday to extend full cooperation for conducting the protest in a 'peaceful and successful' manner. Karunanidhi has already demanded a roll-back of the diesel price hike.