They are both on the same side,hints Cong

On the other hand,CPM state unit secretary Biman Bose said that it was a coincidence that the bandh was observed on the same day by both his party and the BJP. He,however,criticised the BJP for allegedly “taking advantage” by calling the bandh on Monday.

Bose claimed that the left Front had issued its statement announcing the bandh much earlier than the BJP. “We had no communication with the BJP regarding the bandh. The BJP has taken advantage by calling the bandh on the same day,” he said.

Bhuniya opined that it was the state government that should have taken the initiative to cut oil prices by reducing the cess and additional surcharge on fuel before opting for a bandh. He alleged that the the Left Front regime had imposed taxes on fuel and LPG to “run the government”.

“The state government requires money to run the government. But when the Centre decides to hike fuel prices for the same reason,it opposes the move. This dichotomy cannot be tolerated. The people were forced to observe the bandh but they did not support the politics behind the bandh,” said Bhuniya.

Bose said that the bandh was spontaneous as the fuel price hike affected the common man directly. The hike was unjustified. The Left parties will continue to protest and hit the streets again,he asserted.

The Left parties have observed two Bengal bandhs in the past 10 days. Immediately after the government took the decision to raise fuel prices,CITU-backed transport workers observed a 12-hour transport strike throughout the state on June 26.

Asked why they had called two successive bandhs on the same issue,Bose replied,“The Left Front had no relation with the transport strike. The Left Front had no discussion with CITU on the issue. They had called the strike on their own.”