Karnataka bandh evokes mixed response till noon

The Karnataka bandh called by the BJP to protest against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's failure to keep up his promise of farm loan waiver has evoked a mixed response in various parts of the state till noon.

In most places, bus and auto rickshaw services were unaffected. Petrol bunks and educational institutions began operations as usual.

At many places, the BJP workers were seen forcing owners of business establishments to close down operations.

In all major towns and cities, the BJP party workers staged protests and condemned Kumaraswamy's stand on farm loan waiver.

As a precautionary measure, the police detained the protesters as they staged protests without permission.

In Chitradurga, a group of 40 BJP workers barged inside Indira canteen raising slogans against Kumaraswamy and pelted stones damaging window panes.

The police rushed to the spot and detained the protesters.

Led by MLA G H Thippareddy, they staged a protest at Mahatma Gandhi circle.

In Davanagere, the police took more than 50 BJP workers into preventive custody including MP G M Siddesh, MLA S A Ravindranath and Mayakonda MLA Prof Linganna.

The NWKRTC withdrew the service of about 20 % buses in Hubballi.

The police detained the BJP workers who attempted to disrupt the service of public transport in Navanagar and Bairidevarakoppa.

They also blocked the way for deputy commissioner S B Bommanahalli's car for some time.

There was poor response in Shivamogga, while it was mostly total in Shikaripura, which is represented by state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa.

In Gadag, the BJP Raitha Morcha members staged a protest and sought the government to fulfil the promise.

Due to the death of MLA Siddu Nymagouda, the BJP called off the bandh in Bagalkot district as a mark of respect.

In Tumakuru, led by MLA Jytho Ganesh, the party workers stated a protest at BGS circle.

"Let JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy prove that they are sons of soil by waiving the farm loan," the MLA said.

In Hassan, MLA Preetham Gowda urged Kumaraswamy to waive the farm loan immediately.

"I will donate my one month's salary to Chief Minister's fund toward the farm loan waiver," he said.

There was hardly any response in Ballari, Bidar, Ramanagar, Karwar, Hosapete, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Koppal, Kalaburagi and other parts of the state.

In most places, it was BJP leaders who staged protests.