Shutters down on April 10

Shutters down on April 10
Essential Commodities Won’t Be Hit; BMTC, KSRTC Undecided Over Bandh
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The Akhila Karnataka Gadi Horata Samithi has given a call for a Karnataka bandh on April 10 in protest against Tamil Nadu’s stand on Hogenakkal project. However, essential commodities and medical stores have been spared.
As for buses, both the state-owned transport undertakings — KSRTC and BMTC — have not taken any decision in this regard. “KSRTC will act on the advice of the police. We are in continuous consultation with the police, but so far no concrete decision has been taken pertaining to the matter,’’ said KSRTC officials. KSRTC runs around 8,000 buses, both intra- and inter-state, whilst around 1,800 of them are inter-state. Here, over 250 buses ply to Tamil Nadu, and the same number come into Karnataka.
BMTC chief traffic manager Dastagir Sharief said by Monday or Tuesday, the corporation would take a call on whether to stop the operations or not. “There is still some confusion on the day of the bandh. We will have a meeting next week, and go as per the administration’s instructions,’’ said Sharief, adding that one day’s stalling of operations would mean a loss of nearly Rs 2 crore per day for BMTC. But Samithi president and former MLA, Vatal Nagaraj, said Kannada organizations would support and work along with it to make the bandh a success.
“Even the state government employees’ association and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce have expressed their support,’’ he added.
Nagaraj said the Samithi would ensure that the bandh is peaceful. “Our effort is to draw the attention of the Centre to what we believe is injustice to Karnataka. Let a survey of Hogenakkal water be conducted before any move is made. The question of pacts and agreement can come later,’’ Nagaraj said.
Jaya Karnataka rally
Around 7,000 to 8,000 people set off on a rally to Hogenakkal on Friday. The rally, organised by Muthappa Rai-led Jaya Karnataka, started at the BBMP office at 10 am and reached Mysore in the evening. More than 1,000 vehicles were seen plying on the Mysore highway. Jagadeesh Gowda of Jaya Karnataka said the rally received support from people in Bidadi, Maddur, Mandya, Srirangapatna and Mysore.
Muthappa Rai, who joined the rally at Bidadi, has decided to be part of it till it reaches Hogenakkal.
DGP to meet protesters
State DGP K R Srinivasan will meet the leaders of Kannada organizations on Saturday. Srinivasan, on Friday, said the police will try to convince the leaders not to proceed with the bandh. “If they hold a violent agitation and the bandh, we will take strict measures,’’ he added.
Party positions
Congress: Yet to take a decision. KPCC president Mallikarjun M Kharge has convened a meeting on Saturday to discuss the issue.
BJP: Supporting the bandh.
JD(S): Yet to take a decision.