Tepid response to Bandh call to oppose CAA, NRC
   Date :30-Jan-2020

Tepid response to Bandh c
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Bandh call given to protest Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC received tepid response in Bhopal on Wednesday. It was mostly old Bhopal which had some effect of Bandh. Heavy police force remained deployed in vulnerable parts of city to ensure law and order. Bandh call, given nationwide by Bahujan Kranti Morcha, passed off peacefully, barring a couple of incidents of altercation between shopkeepers and supporters of Bandh.
 
There was hardly any impact of Bandh in New Bhopal. It was from morning hours that Bandh effect was palpable in parts of old city such as Chawni Road, Shahjehanabad, Saray area, Jumerati, Ibrahim ganj, Itwara etc. A group of protesters took out vehicle rally in Jehangirabad. They were also holding placards of ‘No CAA’ and ‘No NRC’. Mostly youngsters turned up in this vehicle rally. Karond Mandi remained totally closed as none of the trader turned up to resume routine business. People turned up in groups at different place to register their protest against CAA and NRC in their own way. For instance, women, mostly from minority community, formed a long human chain at Moti Masjid area. They were carrying small placards on which ‘No CAA, No NRC’ was written.
 
Many women came to participate in human chain along with their toddlers. Most shops of Chawk Bazaar which is biggest market of old city remained opened rather. Likewise, New Market area had also no effect of Bandh as maximum traders opened their shops. However, there were incidents of verbal spats between Bandh supporters and shopkeepers who chose to open their shops. For maximum hours of the day, police remained on toes in city to ensure law and order. Cops, dotting canons and guns in their hands marched from one place to another so that no untoward incident can take place. Senior police and district administration officers kept close eye on protests done in support of Bandh. District Collector Tarun Pithode and DIG Irshad Wali checked the law and order situation by visiting many areas.