Musicians held a performance on Monday to draw the attention of the administration towards the pathetic condition of roads in Arkalgud taluk. Musician and scholar R K Padmanabha of Rudrapatna and musicians from villages in the taluk performed for hours, demanding that the government repair roads which have remained a bad state for a decade.
Hundreds of people and leaders from different forums supported the protest. Commercial establishments remained closed as a bandh was observed in response to the protest. People attracted by the music resumed their activities only after the performance ended. Padmanabha made those who gathered there aware of social issues through his singing.
Earlier, Padmanabha led hundreds of protestors in a march from the tahsildars office to ‘Anakru’ Circle passing the main thoroughfares of the town. ‘Anakru’ Circle was the venue for the performance. Artistes blamed officials and elected representatives for “completely neglecting the problems of the people”.
MLA A Manju should take steps to repair major roads in the district, they added.
The agitators said the roads between Hassan and Ramanathapura, Ramanathapura and Keralapura, Rudrapatna and Keralapura via Basavapatna and Bettadapura were damaged and no steps were taken to fill the potholes despite a series of protests.
The protestors said they were not targeting any politician in particular but wanted to draw the attention of the government to the plight of the people in the district.