Amid bandh call, Amit Shah to address Parivarthana Yatra

Amidst the cloud of Karnataka bandh, called by various Kannada organisations demanding the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the Mahadayi River water-sharing issue, BJP president Amit Shah is participating in the party's Parivarthana Yatra on the Maharaja's College Grounds in the city on Thursday.

It has to be recalled that Shah was present during the launch of the yatra on November 2, 2017, in Bengaluru, as a prelude to the 2018 Assembly polls in Karnataka.

Even as a section of the activists is supporting the bandh call, some have announced that they will not support the bandh. Deputy Commissioner D Randeep has stated that educational institutions will function on Thursday, but the DDPI and DDPU have been directed to either postpone or reschedule the exams scheduled for Thursday. KSRTC officials said that a decision on the bus services would be taken on Thursday, depending on the situation during the bandh.

However, BJP workers have made all arrangements to make the convention a success as Mysuru is Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's home district. Besides Shah, state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa, Union Ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda and other national and state-level leaders will participate.

Leaders and members of the BJP from Krishnaraja, Narasimharaja and Chamaraja Assembly constituencies in Mysuru city and from Chamundeshwari constituency of Mysuru rural would participate in the yatra.

The party members will take out rallies, on their respective vehicles separately, from 10 locations, including MUDA Circle, Maharani's College and Scouts and Guides Grounds in the city and converge at the Maharaja's College Grounds. Yeddyurappa will lead the procession that will start from Ramaswamy Circle, via Chamaraja Double Road, up to the grounds. Amit Shah will join the convention on the grounds around 2 pm. According to BJP leaders, 50,000 people are expected for the convention.

The party leaders said that in view of making the convention eco-friendly, only cloth flags and buntings have been used across the city. Some activists took exception to the supporters of the bandh call pasting posters on compounds and walls at a time when the Mysuru City Corporation and various organisations are striving to make Mysuru a clean city.

Police sources said that security would be beefed up across the city to avert any untoward incident during the bandh. Stress will also be on providing security at the Maharaja's College Grounds, where the BJP convention is being held.

KSOU row

Meanwhile, members of Karnataka Rajya Muktha Vishwavidyanilaya Ulisi Horata Vedike have said that they would stage a demonstration, wearing black bands, to protest against the arrival of the BJP Union ministers, who have failed to get recognition for the courses offered by the Karnataka State Open University.