Karnataka bandh: What will ply and what will remain closed?

The Karnataka Bandh called for Monday, June 12, may not have as big an impact on life in the state as the pro-Kannada groups — who have called for it — might expect. So far, the dawn-to-dusk shutdown, which has been called to demand farm loan waiver and highlight the water woes of Karnataka, has not got much support.

The bandh, or shutdown, has been called by the Kannada Okoota — an umbrella grouping of pro-Kannada bodies led by Vatal Nagaraj, who himself is a six-time MLA and the chief of the pro-Kannada political party Karnataka Chaluvali Vatal Paksha (KCVP). 

As part of the protest, the pro-Kannada groups will take out a procession from Vidhana Soudha — the Karnataka Assembly building — to the Town Hall in Bengaluru, with the rally starting at 11:30 am on Monday. However, not too many people seem keen on throwing their weight behind this bandh, which will ostensibly take place from 6 am to 6 pm. 

Schools and colleges

Schools and colleges — especially the private institutions — are expected to remain open on Monday. However, there can be extra security in case the situation changes and the protesters turn violent. In such a case, schools may even declare a holiday midway through classes. 

Transport

Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) Chairman Nagaraj Yadav has told a local news channel that while Kannadigas should come together to highlight the problems of the state, but sounded more concerned about how safe buses plying on roads and the passengers in them would be. 

He also said any decision on whether to suspend public transport would be taken on Monday itself, depending on the situation on the road. Transportation bodies across the state may be expected to follow this model of decision-making. 

Auto services are expected to be normal unless they are pressured into remaining off the roads due to violence. Vandalism of a single auto-rickshaw can be enough to take entire fleets off the road because auto-owners and drivers would not want their only mode of earning damaged in any way. 

Offices

Offices are expected to remain open on Monday. However, office managements can declare a holiday or ask employees to work from home wherever that is allowed. In case the violence continues, as had happened last year, the offices may remain closed on Tuesday. 

There has been no official word on government offices remaining closed. However, if the situation deteriorates, government employees may choose to remain at home rather than venture out, which could lead to low attendance in goverment offices.