Due to the petrol price hike last week, the main opposition parties in Mangalore, India, (such as the Bharatiya Janata party and the Left party) called for a "Baharat bandh" in order to protest on May 31, 2012.
"Bandh" comes from a Hindi word meaning "closed," which roughly translates to the English word "strike," since the bandh is used as a form of protest. It's not the first time a bandh has been called to protest fuel hikes in the area. It happened in 2010 and years previous as well. The Bandh was put into place by the National Democratic Alliance of India.
MANGALORE : May.31-BANDH IMPACT In Mangalore : The main Opposition parties, the BJP and the Left, have called for a Bharat bandh Today to protest last week's hike in petrol prices. Pic By R.K.BHAT/MANGALORE/KARNATAKA/INDIA