Fuel price hike momentary difficulty, Bharat Bandh unsuccessful: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday described the nationwide Bharat Bandh over rising fuel prices as "unsuccessful" and accused the Congress and other opposition parties of resorting to violence during the shutdown.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the rise in petrol and diesel prices was a "momentary difficulty" caused by the international situation and factors beyond the government's control.

He claimed that people understood the reasons behind the fuel price increase and therefore did not support the shutdown.

"Why are the people of India indifferent to Bharat Bandh? They understand the rise in fuel prices, though temporary, is because of factors beyond the control of the Indian government," Prasad said.

Condemning incidents of violence during the protests, he alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties were resorting to such measures because the shutdown had failed to receive public support.

Prasad said global petroleum supplies were facing severe restrictions because of limited availability and supply constraints. He added that the NDA government was working to contain inflation and address people's concerns.

Comparing inflation levels, the BJP leader said inflation averaged 10.4 per cent during the 2009-14 UPA government, while it had come down to 4.7 per cent under the NDA government.

Prasad also challenged former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an economist, to debate the government on the country's economic situation in Parliament.

Manmohan Singh had earlier criticised the Modi government over rising fuel prices, agrarian distress and what he described as a crisis-like situation in the country.

Prasad also questioned Congress President Rahul Gandhi over violence reported during the Bharat Bandh, including incidents involving petrol pumps and buses.

Referring to the reported death of a two-year-old girl in Bihar's Jehanabad after an ambulance was allegedly delayed amid the protests, Prasad said protests should not obstruct essential services such as hospitals, ambulances and medical shops.

Meanwhile, addressing a protest rally in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising fuel prices, the weakening rupee and agrarian distress. He said a united opposition would defeat the BJP in the next general elections.