Bengal BJP stages blockades over price rise

Kolkata, March 10 : Hundreds of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists Wednesday staged road blockades across West Bengal protesting the rising prices of essential commodities and proposed reservation for Muslims in the state.

The protest caused severe traffic disruptions in Kolkata and many other towns as BJP supporters took out long rallies and blocked important road crossings during peak hours.

"We staged blockades at more than 1,623 places across the state. Our activists blocked 32 important crossings including Hazra, Shyambazar, Howrah Bridge area and Esplanade in Kolkata itself," BJP state president Rahul Sinha told IANS.

He said several BJP supporters were arrested for carrying out the state-wide protest.

"We held this programme in West Bengal mainly opposing the issue of skyrocketing food prices and Muslim reservations," Sinha added.

West Bengal has recently taken a decision to allot 10 percent quota in government jobs for Muslims under the backward class category.

"This is politics of appeasement and the state government is playing the Muslim card ahead of next year's state assembly polls. This will only help wedge a divide between Hindus and Muslims," Sinha said.