Kudligi town observed a near-total bandh on Saturday in protest against the alleged high-handedness of Minister of State for Labour P.T. Parameshwar Naik, who is also in charge of Belagavi district, in getting government officials who were not at his beck and call transferred. The bandh passed off peacefully.
Representatives of organisations, including All India Students’ Federation, Namma Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kisan Sangha, Tipu Sultan Yuvaka Sangha, Communist Party of India, and Construction Workers’ Union, burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the Minister to register their protest. They also burnt an effigy of Mr. Naik and demanded his resignation and reinstatement of Deputy Superintendent of Police Anupana Shenoy, who was transferred recently, allegedly at the behest of the Minster.
All shops and business establishments, including hotels and restaurants, had downed shutters in response to the bandh call. RTC buses were off the road.
At Sandur, Jana Sangram Parishat, criticised the Minister and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging him to drop Mr. Naik from the Council of Ministers.