The State-wide bandh call given by pro-Kannada organisations in protest against the stand taken by Tamil Nadu over Mekedatu dam project evoked good response in the district on Saturday.
The public transportation facility had been completely stopped. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and private buses remained off the road, causing hardships to passengers. Educational institutions and commercial establishments in Shivamogga remained closed. However, the nationalised and private banks functioned normally.
Activists of pro-Kannada organisations took out a rally in the main streets, formed a human chain at Ashoka Circle and burnt the effigy of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam there. Protesters raised slogans urging Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to provide adequate funds for completing the Mekedatu dam project expeditiously.
In the wake of the bandh, police officials and other security personnel had been deployed in large numbers in sensitive areas, including Gandhi Bazaar, Amir Ahmed Circle, Shivappa Nayaka Circle and Tunga Nagar locality.
The bandh was also observed in Shikaripur, Bhadravati and Sagar taluks.
Bandh total in Hassan
Hassan Staff Correspondent reports:
Movement of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses and autorickshaws had been stopped till evening. Government offices and banks were closed, market places wore deserted looks and all roads were empty.
A few passengers, who arrived at the bus-stand with the hope of boarding some bus before protesters hit the streets, were disappointed.
Members of pro-Kannada organisations visited banks and government offices and asked the staff members to leave the offices in support of the bandh. In a few banks, the protesters got into an argument with senior officials and urged them to close their operations for a day. Later, the protesters took out a rally from the Hemavati Statue to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, formed a human chain at N.R. Circle.
They raised slogans against Tamil Nadu.
They submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner H.N. Gopala Krishna demanding that the State government implement the Mekedatu dam project at the earliest .
Ballu Gopal, leader of the Rajkumar Fans’ Association, said Karnataka had the right to fully utilise Cauvery waters at Mekedatu for drinking and power generation purposes. The Tamil Nadu government was intervening into internal matter of Karnataka unnecessarily. “Karnataka government should implement the project at the earliest,” he said.
Bandh call given to protest against stand taken by TN over Mekedatu project
Large number of police personnel deployed in sensitive areas
