Curiously, it was the far-flung satellite town of Yelahanka and its neighbouring villages where the bandh appeared most effective, thanks largely to the unique personal efforts of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA S.R. Vishwanath.
In a scene that was more akin to an election campaign than a protest, Mr. Vishwanath went from village to village bordering Yelahanka and Bangalore Rural, condemning the Union Government's fourth fuel price hike in a year. The only difference was that he, like his “karya kartas”, thumped it out on a motorbike.
Fuelling an agitation
BJP supporters sped about noisily — burning the fuel in question — around the locality waving flags and shouting slogans, in groups large enough to intimidate anyone considering venturing out. They positioned themselves across roads, including the arterial Doddabalapur road in Yelahanka New Town, ensuring traffic did not get through edgeways.
As sparse as the traffic was, it was not long before the blockade caused the road to choke up and resemble a regular weekday, peak-hour jam. Commuters who tried to reason with the protestors got an earful in response, as did this reporter. That is, until the police appeared and dispersed the group. “The bandh was 100 per cent in Yelahanka,” Mr. Vishwanath was pleased to report. “Not even farming activity was carried out.”
