Crime against women: Bengaluru bandh today, protests escalate
Thursday’s call for shutdown will also press Centre to act against MES
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-07-31 06:52 GMT
Bengaluru: Several organizations have supported Thursday’s bandh call given by various Kannada organizations.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Sa Ra Govind, president of Dr. Raj Kumar Fans’ Association, informed that around 250 organisations, including 35 women’s forums, have expressed solidarity with the bandh call.
Mr. Govind said that as part of the bandh call, a massive protest rally has been organized from the town hall to CM’s residence on the Race Course road and a petition will be submitted seeking a new law to curb the increasing number of sexual assault cases.
Mr. Govind also informed that essential services are exempted from the bandh call. The state bandh was originally fixed for July 26, but later postponed to July 31.
According to Kannada activists, this bandh call would also be used to pressurise the centre and state governments to take firm action against MES and the Shiv Sena, which is disturbing the law and order situation in Belgaum.
Except for a few emergency services, all other regular services are expected to be affected by the bandh call. All the major IT firms have requested their employees to work from home if there’s no transport facility.
Most of the private schools in the city have already announced a holiday as a precautionary measure. Many schools have postponed their class tests scheduled on Thursday to the first week of August. Block Education Officials (BEOs) are directed to take an appropriate decision on announcing a holiday to schools based on the local law and order situation. Meanwhile, BMTC and KSRTC have decided to take a final decision on their services on Thursday morning.
Airport services intact: Meanwhile, except Vayuvajra services, all other services to the international airport are expected to remain intact. All the cab service providers informed that they would function as usual on Thursday. Private cabs will also be going off the roads on Thursday. Shops, malls and business centers will remain closed on Thursday. They will reopen after 6 pm.
Karnakata Film Chamber has opposed the bandh call and stated that it will work as usual on Thursday. But according to insiders, all theaters including the multiplexes will remain closed till 6 pmon Thursday.
The Bangalore University has decided not to announce a holiday. Speaking to this newspaper, VC Dr.B Thimmegowda informed that the university has postponed I MBA examinations due to the bundh. But there will not be any holiday for colleges.
Most of the premier organisations have requested their employees to work from home. “Employee transport is expected to be affected by the bandh. So we have decided to ask our staff to work from home in case they cannot turn up for work,” informed an HR executive working with a private software firm at Electronic City.