The bandh call given by the BJP and the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in protest against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to the Centre seeking relocation of the proposed IIT from Dharwad to Raichur, evoked good response in both Hubballi and Dharwad on Wednesday.
Stray incidents of stone-throwing marred the otherwise peaceful bandh. North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation officials said that three city buses were damaged in stone-throwing incidents at Hosur and Station Road in Hubballi. A car was also damaged in stone-throwing. Following stone-throwing, city bus services were suspended in the twin cities and long-distance buses passing through the twin cities were diverted via alternative routes.
While the district administration declared a holiday for educational institutions as a precautionary measure, most of the shops and commercial establishments and hotels remained closed.
Though some of the hotels, shops and government offices started functioning, the BJP workers and representatives of various organisations forced them to shut down. This led to an exchange of heated words at a few places leading to police intervention. While nearly 15 organisations had extended support to the BJP’s bandh call in Dharwad, the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and others had given a call for the bandh on their own, though on the same issue.
In both Hubballi and Dharwad, various organisations, including the KCCI, te BJP and others, took out protest marches and staged demonstrations at various junctions, including at Kittur Chennamma Circle in Hubballi and at Alur Venkatarao Circle in Dharwad. BJP leaders and party members were seen actively involved in taking out protest marches, staging road blockades at important junctions by forming human chains and taking out motorcycle rallies starting from different points.
While the central business districts remained almost shutdown, some shopkeepers and hoteliers did business with half-open shutters.
The most affected were people who had reached the twin cities for various work. As passengers were dropped kilometres away from bus stations, they were forced to walk the whole distance carrying their baggage.
