Karnataka bandh evokes lukewarm response
The state-wide bandh called bypro-Kannada groups in Karnataka on Saturday opposing thegovernments decision to create a corporation for Marathacommunity, received a lukewarm response with no major impacton normal life.
Other than stray incidents like miscreants peltingstones on buses at K R Puram and Chandpura in the city, theday passed off by and large peacefully.
Autorickshaws, cabs, public transport buses andmetro services were on the roads as usual while hotels andshops and establishments were open.
Vehicular movement was by and large normal invarious parts of the city and similar reports have come infrom other parts of the state.
Activists from several Kannada organisations whotried to gather near the citys Town Hall for stagingdemonstrations were detained and taken away by the police.
Protests have also been reported in Chamarajanagara,Bengaluru Rural, Gadag, Koppa, Hassan, Ramanagara,Chitradurga, Davangere, Bagalkote, Chikkamagaluru and Mandya,among other districts.
Vatal Nagaraj of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha,along with other leaders of the coalition of Kannadaorganisations were detained near Town Hall as he came there tolead the protest, while Karnataka Rakshana Vedike PresidentNarayana Gowda and other leaders of his organisation weredetained as they tried to march towards the CMs residence.
Police had made elaborate security arrangements inthe city to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
Security had been beefed up around the ChiefMinisters official residence and home office here, where someactivists had planned to stage a sit-in.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is in Belagavi toattend the BJPs state executive meeting.
Speaking to reporters, Nagaraj claimed that about25,000-30,00 Kannada activists were detained across the stateto foil the protest and the bandh, but the agitation wouldcontinue until Yediyurappa resigned and the order onestablishing the corporation was withdrawn.
He also threatened “jail bharo” protest and said ameeting has been called on December 9 in this regard.
“Yediyurappa is a cheater, he has cheated Kannadaand Kannadigas….He is behaving like a Hitler and usingpolice against Kannada activists,” he said as he questionedthe silence of Congress and JD(S) leaders.
Yediyurappa on Friday urged the pro-Kannada groupsnot to go ahead with the bandh, calling it “unnecessary”, ashe asserted that Kannadigas and Kannada were his governmentsutmost priority.
He had earlier clarified that the decision to set upa Maratha Development Corporation had nothing to do with theMarathi language, and it is for the Maratha community residingin the state.
Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, Home MinisterBasavaraj Bommai said, as expected people of the state havenot responded to the bandh call and life has been normal inBengaluru and across the state with offices, private andpublic transport functioning.
“Things have been peaceful, at some places therewere stray incidents of burning tyres, forceful imposition ofbandh and also pelting stones on buses.Police have takenaction,” he said.
The pro-Kannada organisations had set a November 30deadline for the government to withdraw its decision toestablish Maratha Development Corporation.
The governments decision to create a body for theMaratha community is seen as a move by the ruling BJP to woothe community ahead of the Belagavi Lok Sabha, Maski andBasavakalyan assembly bypolls, which are yet to be announced.
The community is said to have considerable presencethere.
The government had earlier announced the setting upof the Maratha Development Authority, but subsequently changedit to corporation, as authority has to be constituted by alaw, by passing an act in the legislature.
Despite opposition, the government, following thecabinet approval, has issued a formal order establishing theMaratha Development Corporation, with an allocation of Rs 50crore, which has irked the pro-Kannada groups .
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)
