Bundh will cripple life today

Bundh will cripple life today
Deccan Herald

Normal life in most parts of the State is likely to be severely affected on Wednesday with the pro-Kannada organisations giving a call for a statewide bundh for 12 hours starting at 6 am. The bundh is being organised to protest against the Centre’s stand on the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute.


Normal life in most parts of the State is likely to be severely affected on Wednesday with the pro-Kannada organisations giving a call for a statewide bundh for 12 hours starting at 6 am. The bundh is being organised to protest against the Centre’s stand on the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute.

Schools, colleges, banks, restaurants, cinemas, factories and other business establishments are likely to remain closed, though emergency services like hospitals and milk supply have been exempted from the bundh.

Autorickshaws and taxis will be off the road during the bundh period. Though the officials have pledged to run a skeletal bus service in the morning, and continuation of the service will depend on the “situation.”


The bundh is likely to have an impact across the State as reports from Bidar in the north to Chamarajnagar in the south indicate that most schools and business establishments will be closed and public transport severely curtailed.

The bundh call given by the Kannada Vedike and Kannada Chalavali Vatal Party is supported by more than 600 pro-Kannada organisations. The two government employees’ associations with more than six lakh members have lent their support to the bundh.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and the Karnataka State Cable TV Operators have also extended support. Cinema halls will not be screening movies. Cable TV services will not air non-Kannada channels during the bundh.

School holiday

Commissioner for Public Instruction Madan Gopal, while declaring holiday for government schools in Bangalore, has left the decision in districts to the respective Deputy Commissioners. In private educational institutions, it is left to the managements to take a decision. Majority of the schools/colleges have declared a holiday keeping the security of students in view.

The vacation sittings of the High Court and other courts in Bangalore will be held as scheduled with the Government providing security to escort judges to the Courts. However, the sittings will depend upon the appearance of advocates and litigants before the each court, said the officials.

‘Go on leave’

State Government Employees’ Association President L Byrappa has asked its members to go on leave for the day. Similarly, labour unions of various factories have decided not to work to support the bundh. Though private companies have not come out openly supporting the bundh, their offices will remain shut tomorrow.

The KSRTC and BMTC have promised to run buses but only a skeletal service. However, the services will be withdrawn if any untoward incidents occur, said BMTC Chairman Upendra Tripathi. The Railways have decided not to withdraw train services. Steps have been taken to beef up security in the stations.

Associations of drivers of autorickshaws, taxis and tempos have decided to remain off the roads. Health services and transportation of trucks carrying milk will function normally.

Health minister R Ashok said that services in government hospitals will not be affected. Banks are likely to be closed as employees may choose to stay at home. Bank employers’ associations have not openly extended support to the bundh. However, ATM kiosks will function, according to President of Bank Officers’ Association Venkatesh Murthy.

“No holiday has been declared for banks. But banks can function depending on law and order situation ”.

Mr Ananthapadmanabiah, a member of the Federation of Bank Employees’ Association said, “There are no instructions for us to close the banks. But women employees have been asked to keep off.”

IT firms

Almost all IT firms will remain closed on account of the bundh on Wednesday and work instead on Saturday. However, a few BPOs have made arrangements for their employees to stay over on Tuesday night and work the next day.

President of Kannada Chalavali Vatal Party Vatal Nagaraj has said, bundh will be peaceful. “Pro-Kanada organisations have no intention to harm the public in any way. Our aim is to show our unity to the Centre, which has been neglecting Karnataka,” he said.

Security has been geared up across the state. A total of 60,000 policemen, home guards and armed reserve policemen have been deployed across the state. Tamil Nadu is also sending forces to Bangalore.

DG & IGP B S Sial and Bangalore Police Commissioner N Achutha Rao in separate circulars to the department officials have instructed police officers to take stringent action against anyone found resorting to violence during the bundh. Additional DGP (Law & Order) Shankar Bidri said “Adequate forces have been provided at all districts .with special emphasis on cities with high Marathi- speaking population.” In Bangalore 35 platoons of CAR have been deployed.

Call it off, says CM

Appealing to Kannada organisations to call off the proposed “Karnataka bundh” on Wednesday, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, in Mysore on Tuesday, there was no need to for it as the State government had sent the “right message” to Maharashtra on the boundary issue, reports DHNS.

“We have already sent the right message to Maharashtra by conducting a special legislature session in Belgaum recently... There is no need for a bundh,” he said, before visiting some villages in Mysore district.

He said the State government was committed to protect its boundaries and reiterated that the Mahajan Commission’s report was the final.

“We have to win the hearts of people living in the border areas with love and affection and should not use any force,” he said. The Centre’s decision to take a neutral stand in this regard was a “victory” to the State and organising the bundh would only inconvenience the people, he added. “Though the Kannada organisations’ concern on the issue is commendable, I personally do not support the move,” he stated.

But Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj has categorically rejected the Chief Minister’s appeal to call of the bundh.

Another Kannada Vedike leader Prabhakar said the Chief Minister’s advice was “unsolicited”.

Why the bundh?

* Pro-Kannada organisations have called the bundh in protest against the Centre’s stand on the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute. Organisations allege that the Centre has been dancing to the tunes of Maharashtra.

* Maharashtra had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking transfer of Marathi-speaking areas in Belgaum to that state or imposition of president’s rule on those areas. Meanwhile, the Centre prepared an affidavit to file in the Supreme Court, saying that Maharashtra’s demand was not “maintainable in law”.

* While Karnataka welcomed the Centre’s move, Maharashtra opposed it. Later the Centre withdrew its affidavit, inviting strong criticism from Karnataka. Pro-Kannada organisations have been complaining that Home Minister Shivraj Patil was ‘conspiring’ against Karnataka.