The state-wide bandh called by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj and backed by a few pro-Kannada groups saw varying reactions across Karnataka on Saturday. The 12-hour protest was organized against the alleged assault on a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi last month for not knowing Marathi.
In Mysuru, the response was subdued. Pro-Kannada activists staged demonstrations near the Suburban bus stand, attempting to block buses. However, they were detained by the police and released later. Hotel owners voiced moral backing for the bandh but continued regular operations. Shops stayed open, and private vehicles, including autos, moved unhindered.
Meanwhile, Mandya city witnessed a strong show of support. Pro-Kannada outfits like Kannada Sene, Kadamba Sene, and farmers’ associations actively participated. Protesters gathered near Sanjay Circle holding grass, symbolizing farmers’ struggles, conducted bike rallies, and halted a KSRTC bus traveling from Bengaluru to Virajpet. Many shops voluntarily downed shutters, though KSRTC and private vehicle services ran as usual. Schools also functioned normally. Additionally, demonstrators demanded the Mekedaatu project’s implementation and opposed the Bengaluru Cauvery fifth stage drinking water initiative. Security was tightened across the city.
In Chamarajanagar, a few activists protested with placards and by throwing tomatoes on roads, but overall, life remained unaffected. Similarly, in Hassan district, business and vehicle movement carried on undisturbed, with markets, shops, and public transport operating routinely.
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