Karnataka bandh: Activist under house arrest, security beefed-up

Demanding an increase in the reservation of jobs for Kannadigas in both government and private sectors, pro-Kannada organisations have organised a bandh in Karnataka, on Thursday (February 13).

The bandh call had some impact on normal life in Bengaluru and other parts of the state. While, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had appealed to the pro-Kannda organisations to keep their agitation peaceful. He said his government always stood for Kannada and Kannadigas and initiated measures to implement the Sarojini Mahishi report.

Barring a stray incident of stone pelting at a bus in Dakshina Kannada district, the bandh was peaceful in the morning hours. Buses and autorickshaws plied as usual defying the bandh call given by the Karnataka Sangathanegala Okkoota, a consortium of organisations in Karnataka. The organisers of the bandh are demanding implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report which recommended that preference be given to natives of Karnataka in Central government and private jobs in the state.

Mangaluru: Stones pelted on a Tirupati-Mangaluru bus in Farangipet. Several pro-Kannada groups have called for Karnataka bandh today demanding implementation of Sarojini Mahishi report which recommended certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in private&public sector companies pic.twitter.com/mPJXUXJTR5

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2020

In Bengaluru, city buses plied as usual though most of them ran almost empty as there were very few commuters. Autorickshaws operated as usual though one of the autorickshaw drivers associations had supported the bandh. The main trade area of the city, KR Market and surrounding places had no effect of the bandh in the morning hours.

Several pro-Kannada groups have called for Karnataka bandh today demanding implementation of Sarojini Mahishi report which recommended certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in private & public sector companies. https://t.co/H2kDvBAU0Y

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2020

Pro-Kannada activists were on the city rounds appealing to traders to shut their shops in their support. Pro-Kannada activist Praveen Shetty has been kept under house arrest. In Anekal near Attibele in the city on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, activists reportedly tried to shut shops and business establishments forcibly. At Pirangipet in Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, stones were pelted at a private bus in the morning. Heavy deployment of policemen has been made at important locations to check untoward incidents.

Later, Chief Minister met pro-Kannada activists and they submitted a memorandum to him.

(With inputs from PTI)