BENGALURU: Kannada Okkuta leader and activist Vatal Nagaraj’s call for ‘Karnataka bandh’ against the attack on a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi last month for not speaking Marathi received a lukewarm response across the state, including Bengaluru.
Kannada activists demanded that the state government issue an order banning Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) in Belagavi to protect the interests of Kannadigas.
While the bandh call received a mixed response in Mysuru, it failed to evoke any significant response in districts such as Belagavi, Kolar, Davangere, Chitradurga and Shivamogga.
Vatal Nagaraj, who also leads Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha, claimed that Saturday’s bandh was successful in Bengaluru despite attempts by the city police to thwart the efforts of various Kannada organisations from going ahead with it.
As it was the fourth Saturday of the month, government offices, banks and private companies remained closed. The bandh did not affect the general public. The police denied permission for rallies and processions in the city. It was business as usual in the city.
City buses, cabs and autorickshaws operated as usual. Malls, hotels and other business establishments remained open. Security was tightened at Majestic, Mysuru Bank Circle, Town Hall and KR Puram in Bengaluru and in some sensitive places in the state.
Earlier in the day, the police took activists trying to stage protests in the city to Freedom Park. Home Minister G Parameshwara had warned of strict action against those trying to disrupt peace and harmony.
“No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city. Security was tightened. Those trying to organise protests were taken to Freedom Park,” B Dayananada, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, said.
Vatal Nagaraj and other activists went to Town Hall to take out a procession to Freedom Park. However, the police detained Nagaraj.