
A 12-hour statewide shutdown referred to as by pro-Kannada outfits started at 6 am as we speak. Police personnel have been deployed in Kalaburagi and different districts as a precautionary measure after the decision for the bandh got here in protest in opposition to the alleged assault on a Karnataka State Street Transport Company (KSRTC) bus conductor in Belagavi final month for not talking Marathi. The state authorities has not supported the bandh.
What’s closed, what stays open? Instructional establishments will stay open with Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Jagadeesha G Friday clarifying that there shall be no vacation for colleges and schools within the metropolis. Nonetheless, transport disruptions are anticipated to influence SSLC (Class 10) college students taking exams as we speak. Additional, Class 12 tudents of CBSE and ISC boards even have their exams. Public transport providers like KSRTC and BMTC will function, however some auto-rickshaw, cab, and personal driver unions have prolonged assist to the bandh. The lodge and movie business representatives have prolonged ethical assist to the protest, however their providers are more likely to proceed.
What are the bandh organisers’ calls for: The organisers of the bandh have outlined a number of calls for, together with a ban on pro-Marathi teams and Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) inside Karnataka, accusing them of perpetuating violence and disrupting concord. They’ve additionally sought to implement measures to safeguard the rights and dignity of Kannada-speaking people, particularly in border areas like Belagavi. Alongside the language conflict, the protestors have demanded a withdrawal of Bengaluru Metro fare hike and the Better Bengaluru Authority Invoice. Moreover, the cab drivers and autorickshaw associations are additionally protesting looking for a ban on two-wheeler taxi providers, which they argue is affecting their enterprise.
© IE On-line Media Companies Pvt Ltd