Mixed response to bandh call in districts

The nationwide bandh call given by various trade unions on Friday evoked mixed response in Hassan, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts.

Barring a stray stone-pelting incident at Hosakoppalu Layout in Hasan city, where the miscreants damaged the windshield of a KSRTC bus, the bandh went off peacefully.
KSRTC buses, which stayed off the roads in the morning, started plying by the afternoon.
Autorickshaw drivers had extended support to the bandh. Shops and business establishments had downed the shutters voluntarily. The cinema theatres had cancelled the shows in the morning. Youths took out motorbike rally, requesting the traders to extend support to bandh call by closing down the shops.

As the district administration had not declared holiday for schools and colleges, students were affected. But, most of the private educational institutions had declared holiday.

Members of various trade unions took out a rally on the main streets and formed a human chain at N R Circle. They also raised slogans against the anti-labour policy of the NDA government. Rumours spread that miscreants had torched a car as a Maruti van gutted in fire mishap triggered by a short circuit at N R Circle. However, police clarified that it was due to short circuit and Swamygowda, who was driving the car was safe.

Mandya
Representatives of various trade unions like CITU, District Cooperative Bank Employees Federation, Anganwadi Employees Association and others took part in the protest. A few buses, that were on roads, stopped plying at 10 am. But, services resumed by the afternoon.

A few shops had downed the shutters voluntarily. Petrol bunks were open. Members of CITU and other organisations took out a rally on the main streets of the city.

Chamarajanagar
It was a lukewarm response for the bandh call in Chamarajanagar district. The KSRTC buses, private buses and autorickshaws plied as usual. The bus service to Tamil Nadu and Kerala were also not affected. Schools and colleges were open, so were shops on Doddangadi and Chikkangadi Beedhi and other main roads. However, members of various trade unions took out a march, raising slogans against the Centre.