How Karnataka Bandh Has Become A Boon For Bengalurians

'Kannada Okkuta', an umbrella organisation for pro-Kannada groups, has called state-wide bandh on Friday to protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.

This is the second bandh that Bengaluru is witnessing days after Tuesday's shutdown over the same issue, but this call was given by 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti', a collective of farmers' associations and other organizations led by farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar.

'Kannada Okkuta' has expressed confidence that the dawn-to-dusk bandh on Friday will be successful. There will be a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom park in the city, in which people from all walks of life are likely to participate, the organisers said on Wednesday.

They have said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut highways, toll gates, rail services, and also airports.

"Karnataka bandh will be successful, more than 1,900 organisations, associations and pro Kannada organisations have supported it. From Belagavi or Bidar to Chamarajanagara and from Mangaluru to Kolar, everyone is ready to observe bandh," 'Kannada Okkuta' leader and Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj said.

While the pro-Kannada organisations are trying to exert pressure on the government over the issue, it has turned out to be a boon for Bengalurians as the bandh has allowed them to go on a holiday.

Thursday marks a government holiday for Eid Milad-un-Nabi. Due to the bandh on Friday, many schools, colleges and government offices will be closed. However, the IT companies have asked employees to work from home. This means that they will not have to go to their offices on September 28.

Adding to the break, Saturday and Sunday, the regular weekly holidays, are followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, resulting in a five-day long weekend for many.

Not surprisingly, the Outer Ring Road of Bengaluru witnessed a major traffic snarl on Wednesday evening.

Normally, Wednesdays witness a vehicle count ranging from 150,000 to 200,000, but on September 27, the count surged to 359,000 by 7:30 p.m, according to moneycontrol report. This surge was largely attributed to the effects of the Bengaluru bandh that unfolded on September 26. One possible reason was the traffic jam could be an extended weekend that may have prompted many to leave the city.

Even for Mumbaikars, the scenario is the same as the Maharashtra government has declared holiday on Friday on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad, making it a five-day long weekend.

Thursday is a holiday in the state for Anant Chaturdasi.