The Karnataka bandh called by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj on Thursday failed to evoke a significant response across the state, with normal life largely unaffected even as police arrested Nagaraj at his residence in Bengaluru to prevent him from leading protests.
Nagaraj, who had called for the bandh opposing the alleged neglect of Kannada and Karnataka’s interests, was taken into preventive custody early in the morning. Police deployed personnel at several locations in Bengaluru and other parts of the state to prevent protesters from forcing shops, businesses and establishments to shut.
The bandh call had threatened to disrupt normal life in Bengaluru, but public transport and commercial activity largely continued. Shops, markets and establishments in most parts of the city remained open, while traffic moved normally in several areas. Some of the private schools declared a holiday as precautionary measures.
As Karnataka ‘s monsoon sessions are set to open today, there are additional police deployments around Vidhana Soudha and roads leading to it.
The bandh also highlighted the fragmentation among Kannada organisations to bring the state to a standstill through shutdown calls.
However, in Mandya, farmers showed unity by coming out on the road in good numbers. Police had warned that forcible closure of establishments and disruption of public movement would not be permitted. Security was stepped up at sensitive locations, including major transport hubs and commercial areas.
The bandh was called by Vatal Nagaraj’s Kannada Chaluvali Vedike to protect against the release of Kaveri water to Tamil Nadu. When he called for the Bandh a week ago, the state was grappling with drought, but now water inflow into reservoirs has increased due to heavy rains in the Kaveri valley and catchment areas.
