Fiasco of Sanand bandh call; the town busy like any other regular day

Sanand: Bandh call in Sanand town has failed to evoke any response as of by noon today. Entire town is busy in its routine activities like any other normal day. Traffic is normal in the town, schools and other educational institutions are routinely functioning. Citizens as of by noon here have shown no interest in bandh call given by an outfit Thakor Sena led by Alpesh Thakor. Less than dozen Thakor Sena activists who were desperately trying to force shut down in market area were held in the morning by police. Fiasco of today’s strike call was so massive that by afternoon the bandh call was revoked, announcement on which was made by local Thakor Sena leader. However Thakor Sena’s state level chief Alpesh Thakor denied any such move and said bandh call would continue. Fumbling Alpesh Thakor in his talk with media was unable to explain why bandh call was a complete failure so far. He blamed ‘BJP goons’ for failure of bandh call and said police should take action against them.

Former Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha(BJYM) state president Pradipsinh Vaghela was present in market area with his supporters in the morning to see that ‘mischief makers’ don’t get chance to disturb peace and enforce bandh. Vaghela said: I am from Sanand. I have lived here and I know locals and farmers here. Those who have never visited Sanand before, yesterday suddenly came here hoping to get political millage and tried to show sympathy towards local farmers while they don’t know who are the farmers here, what are their issues and which varieties of crops they cultivate.

Vaghela was stating this in reference to trouble maker organization leaders Alpesh Thakor and Hardik Patel’s presence in Sanand yesterday. It’s worth mentioning that Hardik Patel’s presence in Sanand was strongly opposed by BJYM cadre yesterday and he was asked to leave. He was warned that he should not enter Sanand again the next day. Hardik Patel was missing today in Sanand after supporting the announcement of bandh call here yesterday.

Showing his strong anti-BJP stand yesterday before news channel cameras, Thakor Sena chief Alpesh Thakor had announced bandh call. Thakor and Hardik Patel were later seen visiting Gujarati news channel studios in the evening to further propel their bandh call move in Sanand. Hardik Patel was seen even stepping ahead to provoke the farmers across Gujarat to join the protest against BJP government over Sanand issue. However there has been no response to their call in Sanand or at any other place today.

Seven police men were injured yesterday in stone pelting by some elements in farmers rally which was not permitted. Farmers were demanding irrigation water while the government says water supply from Narmada canal outside its pre-fixed command area is not possible at this juncture when summer is near and water storage is limited. Police had to lob 38 tear gas shells and also do lathicharge to control violent mob of farmers or elements that had merged with farmers rally.

Meanwhile Pradipsinh Vaghela said, state minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama is already holding talks with farmers. Such talks happened even before the rally and were to resume on February 16.

Sanand police has filed complaint under various sections including 307 against those involved in violence. However compromise is likely to take place between police and farmers with government and local BJP persons in role of mediators.

In another development, local unit of Congress extended its support to bandh call at around noon, possibly in response to request by Thakor.

DeshGujarat