State likely to come to standstill on Oct 4

State likely to come to standstill on Oct 4
Deccan Herald

The ‘Karnataka bundh’ call given by several Kannada organisations to oppose the Centre’s stand on the Belgaum-Maharashtra boundary issue, is expected to...

The ‘Karnataka bundh’ call given by several Kannada organisations to oppose the Centre’s stand on the Belgaum-Maharashtra boundary issue, is expected to bring the State machinery to a standstill, as the State Government Employees’ Association has pledged its full support to the bundh.

Association president L Bhyrappa told Deccan Herald that barring officers of the Health Department, all others have been asked to keep away from duty on October 4. “Government offices across the state will not function, and close to six lakh employees are taking leave on the day as a mark of support to bundh,” he said.

This decision will affect the functioning of schools and colleges also.


The Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha and Kannada Vedike jointly gave the bundh call condemning the Centre’s decision to withdraw the “prepared affidavit” it was to file before the Supreme Court. The affidavit said that Maharashtra’s petition seeking transfer of Marathi-speaking areas of the border district or imposition of president’s rule in those areas was “not maintainable in law”.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has also supported the bundh call along with coalition partner BJP.

Truck Owners’ Association president P R Shanmukhappa said that over 2.25 lakh trucks will be off the roads on that day. “Trucks from neighbouring States have been asked to stop at the border on the day. Trucks carrying vegetables have been told to reach their destination one day in advance and milk-trucks will run till 7 am,” he said.

Movement of KSRTC buses is also expected to be affected as the Kannada Kriya Samiti of KSRTC has decided to support the bundh.

Former MLA and Kannada Vedike president Prabhakara Reddy said except hospitals and medical shops, all other business establishements would be closed on October 4.

HOLIDAY?

Will the bundh call given by Kannada Rakshana Vedike on October 4, two days after the Gandhi Jayanthi holiday on Monday, extend the break by another day? IT and IT-enabled services companies are hoping it does not. This “unscheduled holiday” has only increased their apprehensions.