Schools, shops and government offices were shut in some Indian states as protesters blocked road and rail traffic as part of a one-day. This was due to a nationwide strike against sweeping economic reforms announced by the government last week. The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), joined by smaller parties from both the political left and right, were protesting against a 14 per cent hike in heavily subsidised diesel prices. They were also protesting against a government decision that opens the door to foreign supermarket chains to invest in India. The measures have triggered a political firestorm.