Patna: The RJD slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the steep increase in petroleum prices and the rupee's slide to an all-time low vis-à-vis the dollar ahead of the Congress's Bharat bandh on Monday.
Both RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his younger son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav slammed the Centre. "There is an oil well on one side and an inflation ditch at the other. The common man is feeling the heat of soaring price, government should tell where the poor will go," Lalu tweeted in Hindi.
Before going to jail, Lalu had issued a note on Twitter saying the RJD Office will keep handling his Twitter account during the period when he is in jail.
Other parties like the Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPM, JMM, AUDF and the National Conference are supporting the bandh, which will be enforced from 9am to 3pm, instead of a full-day bandh, to ensure that ordinary people are not inconvenienced beyond a point. Demonstrations will be held in every state and district headquarters.
In the evening, Bihar Congress working president Kaukab Quadri met Tejashwi Prasad Yadav at his 5 Deshratna Marg official residence to seek his support for the bandh. Tejashwi gave his word of support.
The Congress decided on the nationwide strike after it received criticism that the Opposition was not doing enough against the steep increase in petroleum prices. Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha had taken a jibe at the Opposition parties three days ago, saying they had restricted their protest to press conferences and Twitter.
Tejashwi not only supported the Bharat bandh but also attacked the Centre.
"There is continuous increase in petrol and diesel prices to provide benefits to corporate people who are friends of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ever since Modi became PM, inflation is touching the sky. This government is nothing but full of jumla (claptrap) and thugs."
Tejashwi said the nexus between thugs and the Centre has made people's life miserable and the Modi government has proven to be a failure at every point.
He stressed that because of rise in petroleum prices, the price of necessary commodities, too, has increased manifold, adding to people's woes.
The RJD women's cell also protested against the Modi government by holding up gas cylinders and other kitchen utensils.
"Because of fuel prices hike, women's kitchen budget has been badly hit and it has become difficult for the housewife to run the kitchen," RJD women cell president Abha Lata said.
"The Modi government talks about empowering women but he is the one who has made their lives hell. He has no shame at all."
RJD national vice president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said the party will hit the streets against the Modi government. He critised the Centre for taking the rupee to an all-time low.
