Lukewarm response to K'taka bandh call in most districts

Normal life unaffected; banks, government offices remain open

The Karnataka bandh called by various organisations on Monday, demanding permanent irrigation for arid districts and farm loan waiver, evoked poor response.

There was lukewarm response for the bandh call in Mumbai Karnataka and Hyderabad Karnataka regions. Life was normal in Dharwad, the epicentre of Mahadayi protests. While some traders had shut up shops till 12.30 pm, schools and colleges functioned as usual. However, KSRTC and private operators suspended bus services from 9.30 am to 6 pm. The situation was similar in Belagavi.

The bandh call evoked poor response in Ballari also. Government offices and banks functioned as usual. Schools and colleges were open and transportation was not affected. The bandh call had no effect in Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur and Koppal districts.

In Yadgir, NEKRTC operated mofussil and city bus services. Private buses and other vehicles too operated.

Members of pro-Kannada organisations staged a protest in Kalaburagi. In Raichur, the protesters burnt an effigy of the state government and blocked movement of vehicles at Ambedkar Circle. Life was normal in Koppal, Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts.

 The state-wide bandh call evoked poor response in Mysuru, Hassan, Mandya, Chikkamagaluru and Chamarajanagar districts. Buses, taxis and autorickshaws plied as usual. Schools and colleges were open. Hotels, theatres and petrol bunks did normal business.

In Hassan, protesters attempted to forcefully close a few shops near the old bus stand. But, police personnel who were deployed across the city as a precautionary measure intervened and thwarted the attempt.

The bandh had no effect in Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts also. Normal life went on as usual in Shivamogga, Chitradurga, Davangere and Haveri districts. The bandh call did not evoke any response in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.