Anger in air,Oppn mulls Bharat Bandh

Sources in the BJP said the proposal it received was to observe the bandh next week to highlight the issue of corruption,price rise,black money and violation of fundamental rights by the government in the context of Anna Hazare’s arrest.

The BJP — as also other parties in the Opposition — hopes the channelise what it believe “discontent” among the people against the government over corruption to its advantage.

Last year,the NDA and the Left parties had observed a Bharat Bandh on the same day to protest hike the petroleum prices but had given separate calls.

The proposal is doing the rounds at a time when there was a semblance of Opposition unity strengthened by the growing coordination among parties which were otherwise divided on ideological lines.

Just two days ago,leaders of the Left,Samajwadi Party and RJD shed their inhibitions and remained closeted with Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj to chalk out a strategy to take on the government in the wake of the crackdown on Hazare.

All the three parties have in the past consciously avoided being seen with the BJP calling it “communal”.

Sources in the BJP said it was willing to make common cause with non-Congress parties. While considering the proposal,what is not said by most of the opposition parties was that they all want to be seen as siding with Hazare at this juncture to cash in on the “mood of anger” against the government although they don’t agree with the demands of Team Anna regarding the Lokpal Bill.

The main Opposition’s leadership,meanwhile,did not hide its happiness over the fact that parties in the Opposition,especially the Left,has closed ranks with it to attack the government.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani said the concerted efforts made by parties in the Opposition,leaving aside their “ideological differences”,have raised hopes.

Launching a scathing attack on the government,Advani said the Manmohan Singh government has lost its mandate to govern in the wake of the series of scams and scandals.

“The sooner this government goes,the better it would be (for the nation),” he said,adding that the country was feeling oppressed by corruption and ill-governance of the UPA government which came to power with the mandate to work for the common man. Advani was talking at the release of compilation of his blog postings in the form of a book.