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IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Thursday's Bharat bandh called by the National Democratic Alliance, Left parties and Samajwadi Party to protest against the steep hike in petrol prices evoked a mixed response from across the country. Where the Opposition was strong, the Bandh was successful; where it was not, the Bandh met with a tepid response.
While life was paralysed in Karnataka, Goa and Punjab, it evoked a good response in Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
On the other hand, the bandh call received a lukewarm response in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Haryana.
Here are photographs of how Bharat observed the Bandh, from across the country.
The country's financial capital Mumbai took a day off on Thursday, with the Shiv Sena calling for a total bandh. Shops remained closed for the best part of the day, there were a few incidents of stone-throwing, and many didn't need greater persuasion to stay at home.
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IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Bharatiya Janata Party activists stage a protest in Guwahati to mark Bharat Bandh.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Heavy police deployment was witnessed across Mumbai, as shops and businesses largely preferred to remain shut. A few opened for the day, but were quickly persuaded to down their shutters.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
The city of Guwahati bore an absolutely deserted look as NDA parties and state opposition Asom Gana Parishad enforced the bandh call.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Although many autorickshaws and taxis refused to ply, Mumbai's lifeline the local trains continued without any major halt.
Fewer passengers were seen at the pivotal Dadar station, but the crowd was nothing when compared to the crush on other days.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
In the national capital, BJP workers blocked traffic at different places and tried to enforce the bandh, as with this public bus on National Highway 8.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Activists of all Opposition parties picket in front of the Assam secretariat in Guwahati to protest against the petro price hike.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Mumbai remained largely deserted on the bandh day, especially in the forenoon.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
BJP activists blocked traffic on Howrah Bridge in Kolkata as the bandh received a good response in West Bengal
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
BJP supporters shout slogans while blocking a railway track in Ahmedabad on Thursday
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Bandh backers vent out their ire on BEST buses in Mumbai on Thursday. Protestors pelted stones at more than 40 buses in the megapolis.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Passengers coming to Mumbai had to face an extremely difficult time as local transport services were badly hit on bandh day.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
A popular coffee outlet had to pay the price for continuing business on the bandh day in Mumbai
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Autorickshaws largely preferred not to ply on bandh day in Mumbai
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
Former MP Ramdas Athawale, chief of Republican Party of India, an ally of Shiv Sena and BJP ruling the Mumbai civic body, courts arrest while trying to enforce the bandh with his supporters.
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
A cat is in for a surprise as a fish market in Mumbai remains shut owing to the Bharat bandh
IN PHOTOGRAPHS: Bharat Bandh!
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