Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday denied the bandh was sponsored by his government.

He was reacting to BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa's charge that the Congress government had instigated the shutdown to ruin BJP president Amit Shah's visit to Mysuru.

Home minister Ramalinga Reddy said 63,000 policemen had been on duty and ensured the bandh was peaceful.

Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj said all parties except the BJP had extended their support to the agitation. He described the bandh as successful.