Activists pull the plug on traffic

Activists pull the plug on traffic
The Times of India

Bangalore: Pro-Kannada organisations staged a protest on Raj Bhavan Road pushing the brake on traffic and leaving motorists stranded under the hot midday sun for nearly an hour on Monday.
DCP traffic (east) M A Saleem said, “Traffic eased on Raj Bhavan Road, Ambedkar Road and other connected roads in the central business district after about 45 minutes.”
The Gadinadu Horata Samiti and other Kannada organisations carried out these protests against the alleged “stepmotherly treatment of the Central government towards Kannada language, implementation of the Mahajan Committee recommendations and sought classical language status for Kannada”.
The activists, who included legislator Vatal Nagraj, K Prabhakar Reddy, Sa Ra Govindu and others courted arrest and were let off with a warning.
The city witnessed other traffic snarls as Kannada activists blocked roads near Beniganahalli flyover at about 9.30 am. As a result of this, traffic was halted for about 30 minutes on Ring Road and Old Madras Road. Angry motorists, especially office-goers and those headed to the airport, were caught unaware.
The Kannada activists also staged another protest at Naganathapura on Hosur Road for about 15 minutes.
Police said the protestors staged a dharna on the side road and were fewer in number and did not paralyse traffic in a major way.
“We managed to ensure movement through diversions,” added Salem.