-No impact of ‘Bandh call’ in South Gujarat, Central Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch
-Little impact in North Gujarat excluding Banaskantha
-Bandh had partial to major success in Ahmedabad

By, Neel Shah

21st of July, 2008
Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Statewide one day bandh call in Gujarat failed to get response beyond some areas of Ahmedabad city.

Call was given by ‘Jaagega Gujarat Sangharsh Samiti’ a people’s body which is demanding CBI probe in two Asaram Gurukul students’ mysterious death issue.

Major cities of Gujarat:Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Surat, Bhuj had no impact of bandh call. Bandh failed to get response in entire south Gujarat, Central Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch.

In north Gujarat, towns like Mehsana and Visnagar observed bandh peacefully. In Mehsana, shops were opened in the morning but after Congress lead rally, shops were closed. Police detained 11 local local Congress party men in Mehsana. Police detained district president of Congress along with his 11 supporters in Palanpur in north Gujarat. Even in north Gujarat, Banaskantha had no impact of Bandh call.

In south Gujarat, Surat had no impact of bandh. After recent strike and agitations in diamond units, Surtis were more interested in continuing trade and enjoying rain today rather than observing strike once again. Valsad and Vapi too had no impact of bandh. In Vapi Gurjar Kadiya community organized a peaceful rally in sympathy with two victims of Asaram Gurukul. This rally was joined by members of other communities as well. However bandh was a failure here too.

In Saurashtra’s key place Rajkot, Gurjar Kadiya community was not permitted to organize a protest rally. Bandh was entirely failed in Saurashtra. However Bhavnagar region’s small town Gadhada observed total bandh.

Bandh received considerable success in Ahmedabad. Areas around Asaram ashram; Sabarmati and Motera remained closed which was expected. Ranip, Chandlodiya, Vadaj, Ghatlodiya, Bapunagar, Khadia, Kalupur, Shahpur, Khanpur, Asarva, Amraivadi, Khokhra etc. areas observed bandh. Mulims overwhelmingly supported bandh call. Muslim areas observed complete strike today.

At several places local transport buses of Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service(AMTS) were targeted by protesters. In Asarva one bus was torched. In Bapunagar people ransacked two storied ‘Hariom Vedant Mandir’ of Asaram Bapu. This small temple was working as an extension center of Asaram ashram. Protesters burnt pro-Asaram literature found from ‘Hariom Vedanant Mandir’.

Police was on strict vigil in the areas around Asaram ashram. Higher officers of police were deployed for ashram’s security. Check points were busy checking every doubtful vehicle passing through the Motera road where Asaram ashram is situated. Extra security arrangements were made in Madhavbag area of Ranip where parents of victims Shantibhai Vaghela and Prafulbhai Vaghela are on indefinite fast. Interestingly Vaghelas had declared that they were not in support of strike or violence. Vaghelas are demanding CBI probe in Asaram Gurukul issue. Today Civil hospital doctors visited and examined Vaghela brothers. Doctor advised them to hospitalize but Vaghelas refused until they get CBI probe’s assurance from the state government. State government has ordered judicial probe into the mysterious deaths of two boys of Asaram Gurukul. However Vaghelas are demanding only CBI probe.