Bandh Has Lost Its Relevance: Kumaraswamy

City shuts down today
Bandh Has Lost Its Relevance: Kumaraswamy
The Times of India

Mysore/Bangalore: With the bandh call given by Kannada activists to protest the Centre’s stand on the border dispute, the city is likely to see zero activity — at least till 6 pm. Most commercial establishments, offices and educational institutions will remain closed, as also theatres and restaurants. This could mean the roads will wear a deserted look.
On Tuesday, even as Kannada activists and organisations’ prepared to make it a success, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said the bandh has “lost its relevance after the Belgaum legislature session’’.
“The government has cleared doubts on the border row by holding a special session in Belgaum, which clearly emphasised the fact that Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka,’’
Kumaraswamy told reporters in Mysore, referring to the bandh called to register a protest against the Centre’s stand on the border dispute. The chief minister said neither he nor his government supported bandhs. “I think there is no need for Wednesday’s bandh as the Belgaum session pre-empted the Kannada organisations’ move. The Belgaum session has sent a clear message to the people demanding merger of Belgaum with Maharashtra,’’ he added.
He said the Supreme Court had come down heavily on bandhs. The apex court in its ruling in 1997 had upheld the Kerala high court’s orders that bandhs were an infringement on one’s fundamental rights and caused inconvenience to the public.
Warning over violence: He warned the pro-bandh people of serious action if there is any violation of law or any effort to disturb the peace and tranquillity in the state. “A bandh cannot be forced,’’ he maintained.
Queried about the JD(S) stand on the bandh, Kumaraswamy said his party has not supported the bandh. Some individual workers might have done so. JD(S) spokesman and MLC Y S V Datta said the party had decided to support the bandh. Deputy CM B S Yediyurappa said he wanted the bandh to be incident-free.
Irked by the CM’s contention that the bandh had lost its “relevance,’’ Kannada activist and MLA Vatal Nagaraj posed a counter: “Have any legislature resolutions on implementing the Mahajan Commission report borne fruit? The resolution we passed in the legislature session is not enough to ensure that the Mahajan Commission report is implemented.’’
The Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association has expressed support to the bandh. Association president Byrappa said employees will remain absent from work by going on mass leave. “It is a question of state’s land, we will support the Kannada cause,’’ he added.
In Bangalore, while the education department decided to officially declare holiday for government schools, individual schools and PU colleges were free to decide whether they can conduct classes or shut shop.
However, Dharwad deputy commissioner M S Srikar announced that all schools in his district would be closed.
ZERO ACTIVITY
It’s time for some family bonding. While most offices and schools will be closed, other services such as transport, theatres, shops and restaurants may open only after 6 pm, ruling out outings during the day.
TRANSPORT BMTC: skeletal service, will depend on law and order situation KSRTC: regular service after 6 pm Trains: Railways will run services, linked to law and order situation Auto/taxi: Might ply after 6 pm
Lorries, goods transport:
will operate after 6 pm
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Milk, medicines, ambulance, hospitals exempted from bandh. May be partially affected.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Schools and educational institutions:
closed
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS Banks, private companies, IT sector: closed Government offices: Staff to go on leave Shops, hotels and business establishments: closed till 6 pm Theatres, shopping malls: shut Petrol bunks: closed till 6 pm
TELEVISION Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association:
Only Kannada channels will be aired. Other language channels will not be aired.
Newspapers:
Exempted