Bharat Bandh or Nationwide shutdown is a frequent phenomenon in India. This is a powerful tool used by Opposition Parties to express resentment against Government decisions and key policies. In last one year we saw almost three distinct instances of Bharat Bandh.
A bandh is a powerful means of civil disobedience. But the most affected people are the shopkeepers who are expected to keep their shops closed, as well as public transport operators of buses and cabs who are expected to stay off the road and not carry passengers
A Common question arises, Is Bharat Bandh a legal method to express resentment? Â A straightforward answer is NO. In 1998, Supreme Court of India declared all types of Bandhs illegal. Â This means both Bharat Bandh or Statewide Bandh is illegal.
In 2004, the Supreme Court of India fined two political parties, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena for organizing a bandh in Mumbai as a protest against bomb blasts in the city
There has been notable Bandhs in February 2013, Sepetember 2012, and May 2012. Â It has also been reproted that among all States West Bengal has the highest number of Bandhs (40-50 bandhs every year) followed by Kerala.