Bandh: No impact in DK, Udupi

The Karnataka bandh call given in protest against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s failure to waive farm loan failed to evoke any response in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on Monday.

Normal life was affected as schools, colleges and also public transport services functioned as usual. Shops and business establishments remained open.

The farmers’ and pro-Kannada organisations did not support the bandh call though the district BJP unit made an appeal to support the bandh voluntarily.

All the schools reopened after summer vacation on Monday. The postgraduate examinations in Mangalore University and Bharatanatyam Junior Examination were conducted smoothly in the district.

Ajeej Parthipady, president, Dakshina Kannada Bus Operators’ Association, said, “No political party or organisation had sought our support for the bandh. We functioned as usual, especially keeping in mind the students.”

Citizens lauded

Meanwhile, Udupi CPM has lauded the citizens for not supporting the bandh. It was not right on the part of the BJP to call for a bandh when Congress-JD(S) alliance is yet to take full charge, the party said.

“The loan of the farmers who are in distress should be waived. There is a need to give some time to the government to decide on loan waiver. The Union government has written off over Rs 3,00,000 crore loan of the industrialists. But it has failed to waive the loan borrowed by the farmers,” CPM secretary Balakrishna Shetty said.

He urged the BJP to raise their voice against the increasing prices of petrol and diesel.