Bandh likely to affect services

Bandh likely to affect services

The Hindu

Running of buses will depend on the situation on Wednesday, says KSRTC

BANGALORE: State transport undertakings will make efforts to run as many buses as possible on Wednesday, the day on which a State-wide has been called. But operation of buses will depend on the situation on that day.

Banking services are likely to be hit on Wednesday in Bangalore. Most schools in the city will reopen on Thursday instead of Tuesday, in view of the bandh.

KSRTC general manager (Traffic), K.A. Rajkumar said the operation of services in the State would depend on the situation and police directives. Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) managing director Upendra Tripathy said city buses would run skeleton services, as schools, colleges and commercial establishments were likely to remain closed.

The Karnataka Gadinadu Horata Samiti, a forum of pro-Kannada organisations, has called for the bandh in support of Karnataka's stand on the border dispute with Maharashtra. The samiti has urged cinemas, schools, and Central and State government officials to support the bandh.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said that the Janata Dal (S) backed the bandh. The BJP has lent "in principle" support to it.

The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry has also supported the bandh.

R.N. Godbole of the All-India State Bank Officers' Federation said that all banks would be "forced" to remain closed on Wednesday, as there transport services were likely to be affected. But H. Vasanth Rai, general secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Bank Employees' Federation said that bank employees would make efforts to attend work on the day.

School reopening

Most schools are expected to remain closed on Wednesday. Some of them have postponed the reopening after Dasara holidays. Vidyasagar School in Bhoopasandra, Carmel School, Padmanabhanagar, Florence Public School, R.T. Nagar and Clarence School in J.P. Nagar are amongst them.

However, Kensri School of Mariyannapalya (Nagawara), J.S.S. Public School, Banashankari, and St. Joseph's European School, Museum Road, are among those that have opted to reopen as per schedule on Tuesday. But they are expected to declare a holiday on Wednesday.

FKCCI has urged its members to support the bandh. Its president R.C. Purohit even requested other business establishments and industries in Karnataka to support the bandh.

Banana Commission Agents' Association President J. Krishna Reddy said the banana market at Binnypet would remain closed on Wednesday.

South Western Railway general manager T.N. Perti said the train services would not be affected in the State.

Security

Director-General and Inspector-General of Police B.S. Sial said elaborate security arrangements had been made in the State.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Bipin Gopalkrishna said on Monday that about 60 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police and City Armed Reserve would be posted across Bangalore.

The police have requested the Kannada organisations, which have given the bandh call, not to force people to close their establishments.

Various Kannada organisations, under the banner of Karnataka Gadi Horata Samiti will take out a rally on Tuesday from the city's Mysore Bank Circle to various layouts to create awareness about the need for the bandh on Wednesday. Led by Kannada Chaluvali leader Vatal Nagaraj, the rally will see the participation of K. Prabhakar Reddy, former MLA and State president of Kannada Vedike; Sa. Ra. Govindu, president, Dr. Rajkumar Abhimanigala Sangha; Ramanna Kodihosahalli, president, Kannada Sangharsha Samiti; K.R. Kumar, State president, Kannada Sene, and Kannada activists Aa. Thi. Ranganath, G. Mudde Gowda, B.N. Achappa and Ko. Na. Nagaraj Mavalli.