JOIN USThe Bharat bandh call on Thursday evoked good response in Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Mandya and Shimoga districts and north Karnataka on Thursday.
Members of various political parties, labour organisations and traders protested against the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for setting a cap on subsidised domestic LPG cylinders per household to six per year, rise in price of essential commodities including diesel and allowing FDI in multi-brand retail sector.
In the Mandya the effect of bandh was felt more, as the Bharat bandh was coupled with protests against the Cauvery River Authority’s decision, on Wednesday, to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till October 15.
Members of Karnataka Nava Nirmana Sene staged a protest demonstration in front of S M Shankar’s house at Somanahalli in Maddur taluk on Wednesday evening.
Shankar is Union Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna’s brother.
The protesters demanded that S M Krishna resign for failing to safeguard interests of farmers of Mandya district.
While holiday was declared to schools and colleges, to prevent occurrence of any untoward incidents, all major commercial activities came to a halt.
Except trains, the KSRTC and even private bus services were hit. However, hospitals and pharmacies remained open, despite low admission.
Main roads in the district wore a deserted look, while people from villages could be seen waiting for buses in groups.
Members of various organisations burnt effigies and staged road blocks in the district.
In Hassan
Though shop owners in Hassan had voluntarily downed shutters in response to the bandh call, BJP party workers were seen forcing traders to close shops in a few areas.
While cinema halls, post offices, banks and government offices did not function.
In Mysore
The bandh in Mysore was total and there were no reports of untoward incidents, while government offices registered thin attendance.
Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas, who is also Mysore district incharge minister, led the protest opposing the hike in diesel and limit set on providing subsidised LPG cylinders to six per year.
A few BJP workers stopped film shooting at Lalit Mahal Palace, which had Ramya and Diganth as lead actors.
A verbal duel ensued between actor Ramya and protesters, who called her “an agent of the Congress.”
When a few members of a Kannada organisation tried to block the Mysore-Mailaduturai train in the afternoon, the railway police arrested them and imposed a fine.
In Tumkur
Except for a few arrests made on the day, the bandh call by the National Democratic Alliance and Left parties was total in Tumkur.
Kolar
The Bharat bandh was near total and peaceful in the districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur. All most all the education institutions, banks, government and other offices remained closed.
Rallys and protest against the UPA-led Central government marked the day.
In Shimoga
In response to the nation-wide bandh called by the NDA and Left parties private establishments, cinema halls, government offices, educational institutions across the district were closed down.
Though both KSRTC and private bus services were hit, supply of essential commodities like milk and medical services remained as usual.
The court proceedings were affected, as a section of advocates extended support to the Bharat bandh by taking part in protests.Motorcyclists had a tough time unable to get fuel, as all petrol bunks remained shut following the bandh.
BJP and JD(S) workers on motorcycles raised slogans against the UPA government and ensured that the bandh was total.
Bandh near total in NK
The Bharat bandh was total and peaceful in north Karnataka.
The bandh call opposing the UPA’s ‘anti-people’ policies elicited a strong response, as most of the schools and colleges remained closed.
Business establishments downed their shutters and government buses were off roads, throwing normal life out of gear.
As there was no bus services in Bidar, Bellary, Haveri, Bagalkot, Bijapur and Gadag districts since morning, people had to depend on private buses and autos.
There was a mixed response to the bandh call in Gulbarga and Belgaum districts. Except Belgaum, Bailahongal and Chikkodi, life was normal in other taluks in Belguam district.
Similarly, the bandh elicited mixed response among people in Karwar district.
Bus services suspended
Some miscreants pelted stones at the NWKRTC bus in Hubli in the morning. As a result, the bus services were suspended.
Only private buses were seen plying on the roads.
Incidents of miscreants throwing stones at a BSNL office and damaging private vehicles were reported in Hubli.
In Dharwad district the bandh was total and the government-run buses started plying after 5 pm.
Mangalore/Udupi/Chikmagalur/Madikeri
The nation-wide bandh evoked mixed response in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. Life was severely affected as there was no public transport. However, private vehicles were seen plying on streets. However, no untoward incidents were reported in both the districts.
The people heaved a sigh of relief as bus services resumed after 4 pm.
In Chikmagalur
In Chikmagalur district, a large number of people voluntarily supported the bandh and it was peaceful.
In Kodagu
The bandh remained largely peaceful in the district.
DH News Service