VADODARA, Sept 17: With the Rashtriya Janata Party and the Congress all set to go ahead with their all-Gujarat bandh on Friday, the city police said on Thursday they were ready to tackle any untoward situation. Police Commissioner Kuldip Sharma met his subordinates on Thursday evening to chalk out a detailed strategy for the bandh.Claiming that full security arrangements had been made, Additional Police Commissioner M K Tandon told Express Newsline that the Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police Force and Home Guards would be assisting the police in the city.Meanwhile, trade and industry associations appeared to be divided in their response to the bandh call, adds a report from Ahmedabad. The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other trade organisations have sought withdrawal of the call in the wake of floods in South Gujarat.Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya said a police control room had been set up at the Circuit House annexe in Ahmedabad. He said all strategic points and highways in the State would be monitored strictly. Apart from 40,000 police jawans, 19 companies of State Reserve Police, 12,000 jawans of Home Guard, 12 companies of Border Wing Home Guard and four companies of Rapid Action Force have been deployed.In Ahmedabad, 4,000 local policemen will be assisted by 4,000 Home Guard jawans, SRP and RAF to maintain law and order during the bandh.The government has also requisitioned around 25 private vehicles each in each police commissionerate and district police headquarters to supplement its vehicles. This is besides the 35 vehicles at the disposal of state traffic branch, of which it has requisitioned for 20. Special task forces under district magistrates have been formed to keep highways open.The GCCI, the BJP and some trade associations have urged people to ignore the bandh call terming it as mistimed and against the interests of people at a time when parts of the State were reeling under floods. BJP spokesman Bharat Pandya has said his party would fight out any elements not caring for the flood affected people of the State and trying to put them to ransom by calling for a State bandh.However, RJP State president Madhusudan Mistry has appealed to party workers in the flood-hit areas to help out people instead of wasting energy in making Friday's Gujarat Bandh a success.
