Bandh evokes lukewarm response in Chikkamagaluru

The bandh call, given by pro-Kannada organisations demanding the prime minister's intervention in solving the Mahadayi issue, had a mixed response in Chikkamagaluru on Thursday.

The shops and hotels in IG Road, MG Road, Bar Lane Road and other places, remained closed for the day. KSRTC buses stayed off the road till 4 pm. Petrol bunks, theatres, private offices and government establishments, including banks, did not function. The roads were deserted and the movement of vehicles and people was very less.

However, the services of pharmacies and hospitals were uninterrupted. Private vehicles moved as usual. Vegetable vendors and push cart vendors continued their businesses. The stalls in the market road were open as well.

The closing of hotels and shops caused inconvenience to tourists and daily waged workers. Business was down for merchants. The commuters had to suffer as there were no KSRTC buses till Belur, Halebidu, Horanadu, Shringeri, Dharmasthala and Subrahmanya. They had to wait till evening for the buses to restart.

Slogans against Goa CM

Activists of various organisations gathered in front of KSRTC at 7.30 am and insisted that vehicle riders stay off the road, which created confusion. The police intervened and brought the situation under control.

The protesters shouted slogans against Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Central government. They later moved around Chikkamagaluru town on vehicles, waving Kannada flags.

Gathering at Hanumantappa Circle at 12 pm, the protestors shouted the slogans, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to solve the Mahadayi issue.

Heads shaved

Two people got their heads tonsured as a mark of protest. The protesters also displayed empty pots and took out a rally from Hanumantappa Circle to Azad Park Circle. Farmer Chandregowda rode on his bicycle during the protest rally. Some protesters even performed 'Urulu Seve' near Ganapathy Temple at Basavanahalli.

Kannada Sanghatanegala Okkoota president P C Rajegowda, leaders K R Anil Kumar, Noorulla Khan, Teguru Jagadish, Dalita Jana Sene leader Anil Anand, BSP district president K T Radhakrishna and CPI leader B Amjad were present.

Mustafa, a mechanic from Dantaramakki, said he worked in an automobile workshop in Belur. With no public transport facility, he could not make it to duty and lost the wages for the day.

Austin, a tourist from Germany said that he and his family checked out from the lodge and came to the KSRTCbus stand to go to Bengaluru. They came to know about the stir only after reaching the bus stand.

Rs 12-lakh loss

An official said that around 160 buses move to various places from Chikkamagaluru bus stand. Due to the bandh, the KSRTC has suffered a loss of Rs 12 lakh on Thursday.

The shops, hotels and other outlets opened at 4 pm in the evening and the movement of KSRTC buses restarted. Police security was tightened in the main roads and circles.