Bandh evokes mixed response

Protest: Barring skirmishes, the day went off peacefully without any untoward incidents

However, the bandh passed off peacefully in all the three districts without any single untoward incident. There were wordy duels among BJP, Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress workers in some parts of the  districts. Timely intervention of the police prevented what could have ended with the clashes.

In Hassan, while a majority of traders downed the shutters as a precautionary measure, the others closed only after BJP workers pressurised them.

The life came to normal in the noon. The KSRTC did not operate its fleet of buses which caused hardship for the commuters. However, the private bus operators defied the bandh and operated the buses.

The BJP activists burnt the tyres at N R Circle and staged a rasta roko for some time. They raised anti-governor slogans.District BJP Vice-President Ballu Gopal, Zilla Panchayat Member Amith Shetty and others led the protest.

JD(S) protest

While BJP activists were forcing the traders to shut their shops, the JD(S) workers held a parallel protest and appealed to the traders to be non-chalant for band call. At this juncture, a wordy duel ensued among JD(S) and BJP workers on B M Road. However, the police arrived at the spot and dispersed the crowd.

 The JD(S) activists shouted slogans against the CM for continuing in power even after the governor giving permission for the prosecution of Yeddyurappa.

The City Municipal Council President C R Shankar and other JD(S) councillors led the protest. MLA H S Prakash, MLC Patel Shivaram, District BJP President H K Javaregowda led the stir. The Congress workers also held a separate protest near the deputy commissioner’s office, supporting the governor’s action.

The police had made elaborate security arrangements throughout the district as a precautionary measure.

In Mandya the JD(S) bastion, the bandh was a mixed bag. The traders voluntarily closed down their shops in some parts of the city. But JD(S) and Congress workers staged a counter protest separately.

The situation came to normal after 2 pm.The bundh was peaceful in Nagamangala, Malavalli, Srirangapatna, Maddur and K R Pet taluk. Barring minor incidents of burning of tyres, no untoward incidents were reported from any part of the district. The KSRTC remained off the road as a precautionary measure causing hardship for the commuters. The private buses and autorickshaws plied normally.

The cinema halls, business establishments, banks and other offices remained close.
 The busy commercial street Pete beedhi, Vishweshwaraiah road, RP road wore a deserted look. While District BJP President J B Shivakumar led the protest, the District JD(S) president D Ramesh also took out a separate protest rally.

In Chamarajanagar, the bandh was peaceful. The BJP activists in Gundlupet and Chamarajanagar town took out a procession on thoroughfares of the town demanding President Pratibha Patil to recall of Governor Hansaraj Bhardwaj. The people of Kollegal taluk were busy in Chikkellur Jathra. The traders closed down their shops for some time but opened after a few hours. All the educational institutions in the district were closed. The attendance in government offices was skeletal.

The Chamarajanagar city came to normal after 2 pm.