The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Protests, rallies cause gridlock

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Thursday, Sep 25, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Protests, rallies cause gridlock

Staff Reporter

Thousands stranded as vehicular movement is paralysed in city

Traffic police forced to allow two-way traffic on one-way
Several buses diverted to avoid congested roads

— Photo: K. Murali KumaR

A DAY OF PROTESTS: The Karnataka Christian Federation and Congress members taking out two rallies in Bangalore on Wednesday in protest against the attacks on Christian institutions and churches.

BANGALORE: Several organisations staged protests and took out rallies in the city on Wednesday condemning the attacks on churches and Christian institutions in the State.

Members of All India Christian Democratic Front sat on a dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue condemning the attack on churches, and demanded that security should be provided. They urged the Centre to initiate action to prevent such attacks. Among those who were present included Congress MLA K.J. George.

The Karnataka Rajya Dalitha Sangharsha Samiti activists staged a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in support of Christians, and condemned the attack on religious institutions. The activists said that legal recourse was available to prevent forcible conversion since a police complaint could be lodged. They opposed the anti-conversion law sought by the swamijis and said that the inequalities should be removed before seeking such a law.

A protest rally was taken out by the Byatarayanapura MLA and Congress leader Krishna Byregowda against the attack on churches. The rally was taken out from St. James Church in Mariyannanapalya. Congress activists said the communal harmony in the State had been affected by the BJP Government.

Meanwhile, the former MLA Vatal Nagraj and others visited St. James Church. Condemning the attack, he urged the Government to get the churches repaired.

Traffic jam

The Central and Western parts of the city witnessed grid lock during the peak hours as thousands of protesters, especially those condemning the recent attack on churches, took to the streets on Wednesday resulting in chaos on many roads.

Vehicular movements throughout the city, especially around Hudson Circle, K.R. Circle, Majestic, Kempe Gowda Road, Mehkri Circle, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Trinity Circle, and Old Madras Road witnessed traffic jams between 9.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m.

The movement of vehicles was hit for a while on Seshadri Road, Race Course Road, J.C. Road, Mission Road, Kasturba Road, Lalbagh Road, Kengal Hanumanthaiya Road, Richmond Circle and surrounding areas because of these rallies.

“Rallies really annoyed us. The protesters were not bothered about the public and blocked the roads. The city police should ban such protests in the city limits. I suffered a lot because of the snail’s pace of vehicular movements,” said Raju Gowda, a loan processing executive of Bajaj Allianz Corporation.

The police sources said 5,000 people participated in rallies and demonstrations and blocked the roads while taking processions in the central part of the city, bringing traffic to a standstill for many hours.

Traffic movement returned to normalcy around 2 p.m.

The police said that even when dispersing the protesters blocked the roads. However, it was a bumper-to-bumper ride, especially in the surrounding areas of Infantry Road, Cantonment Railway Station, Cunningham Road, K.R. Circle and Hudson Circle.

Buses diverted

“Bus commuters were put to hardship as the traffic came to a halt in these areas. Instructions were given to the BMTC drivers to avoid crowded places. Many buses, which were bound for Kempegowda bus terminus, did not pass through their regular route via Town Hall, Banappa Park and State Bank of Mysore bus stops. Many people were found stranded at these bus stops”, said sources at the Upparpet and Ulsoor Gate traffic police stations.

“I took 40 minutes to reach the Grand Ashoka Hotel from Sanjaynagar. It was a worst traffic jam”, said Chitra, an employee with a private firm.

The city traffic police had made alternative arrangements by allowing two-way traffic on some one-ways.

They had alerted the motorists through loudspeakers and had deployed additional staff to ease traffic in affected areas.

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