A large number of protesters belonging to various organisations staged demonstrations near Town Hall, Freedom Park and the Bangalore City Railway Station here on Monday.
They squatted on the roads and blocked traffic, leading to hold-ups.
The protests were organised by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene (KRRS), the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) and the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), leading to traffic jams on Seshadri Road, Platform Road, J.C. Road, Race Course Road and the road in front of the railway station.
A large number of police personnel were stationed at the site of the protests. The protest by the KRRS also involved a Vidhana Soudha Chalo from the railway station where a large number of farmers gathered around 10.30 a.m.
Farmers from across the State staged another protest in front of Freedom Park, stating that the State government had not kept its promises and urging the authorities to heed their demands.
The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha had earlier threatened to stall the House session, which started on Monday, if the government did not address the demands of the farmers.
The protesters were stopped near Freedom Park by the police as prohibitory orders were in force around the Vidhana Soudha. Barricades were put up to stop the protesters.
Then, agitators blocked Seshadri Road by squatting on the road and waving their green scarves in protest even as some climbed on top of their vehicles and started shouting out their demands. This resulted in a pile-up of vehicles forcing drivers to take alternative routes.
Signals switched off
Traffic signals too were switched off and monitored manually to control the flow of vehicular traffic.
Many commuters expressed frustration and anxiety as they could not reach their destinations on time.
Some commuters complained that it had taken them more than half an hour from Race Course Road to Ambedkar Veedhi.
The protesters refused to budge and only dispersed late in the afternoon after some of the members were taken into preventive custody.
