Bharat Bandh: mixed response in Karnataka

The nation-wide workers' strike witnessed a mixed response in Karnataka on Tuesday. Life seemed normal in Mysuru while Mangaluru witnessed a mixed response. However, the bandh was near-total in Belagavi. Several district administrations declared a holiday for educational institutions.

Mysuru

In Mysuru, the decision on declaring a holiday for Wednesday would be taken on Tuesday evening.

As it is a State government-sponsored bandh against the Central government, it is expected to be a success.

Employees of almost all state government departments, agencies and institutions are taking part in the bandh.

Read also: Poor response to Bharat Bandh in Bengaluru

Head of a government institution said on condition of anonymity, that the employees have decided to apply for a leave and extend their support to the bandh call.

Most of the hotels and restaurants are open. President of Mysuru Hotel Owners Association C Narayana Gowda said the association members do not participate in the bandh. "We do not participate in any bandh for that matter.

Food is an essential need of any person. Besides, Mysuru is a tourist place. If we close our eateries most of the tourists would suffer," he said.

Transportation was not affected in the morning, but KSRTC services are expected to be withdrawn later.

 Mangaluru

The nationwide stir evoked a mixed response in Dakshina Kannada district on Tuesday. A few of the private operators and KSRTC buses operated its services in the district. However, the KSRTC did not operate its service to the neighbouring Kasargod district following the bandh in Kerala. 

All the business establishments, hotels, and other business units functioned normally in Mangaluru. 

Autorickshaws also operated as usual. DK Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil had declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the district. The police had strengthened security across the district to avoid any untoward incidents during the bandh. 

Belagavi

The national wide bandh is near total with life crippling in Belagavi. Auto drivers and owners association, extending support to the bandh, have withdrawn the services. Even the bus services  have been shut down in the city following which life appears to be  crippled in the city.

Since Tuesday is a market holiday, shops have remained closed in the main market areas which is another reason for the bandh to be successful. Shops we're found open in other parts of the city. Petrol bunk, public sector banks, hospitals, and government offices are functioning as usual but the regional and rural banks have closed down.

The district administration has declared a holiday for schools and colleges as a precautionary measure on the first day of the bandh. The decision on declaring holiday on Wednesday will be taken today evening, said an official. Movement of vehicles is scarce in the city with public transportation having been withdrawn. No untoward incidents have been reported.

Shivamogga

The nation-wide bandh called by trade unions against the 'anti-worker' policies of the Centre evoked a poor response in Shivamogga, the home turf of State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa, on Tuesday.

Government offices, banks, educational institutes, business establishments, hospitals, functioned as usual. But the movement of KSRTC buses was completely paralysed causing inconvenience for passengers.

The number of private buses plying in the district was less when compared with regular days. The taxicabs service between Shivamogga and Bhadravathi was affected. Speaking to DH, Private Bus owners Association Office-bearer Anand said a majority of the buses stayed off the road. But a handful of buses are plying towards Udupi and Honnali for the convenience of passengers. The association has extended support to the bandh.

Accredited Social Health Activists took out a procession under the aegis of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) from Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences to deputy commissioner's office after passing through main streets of the city demanding the Centre to provide a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month.

Employees of the postal department also staged a protest outside the head post office in the city urging the Centre to meet their various demands including the abolition of new pension scheme and reintroduction of the old pension scheme.

Employees of Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Plant, a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited, staged a dharna outside the factory in Bhadravathi town urging the Centre to exclude factory from disinvestment and release funds for the rejuvenation.

Hubballi

Mixed response for the Bharat Bandh in Hubballi on Tuesday. KSRTC and Bendre buses remain off the road while some autorickshaws are plying as usual but charging more from the passengers.

Holiday declared for schools and colleges. Many shops at Chennamma Circle and surrounding areas are closed while some commercial firms including hotels and vegetable markets remain open.

Members of trade unions staged protests. Some banks are functioning.