Bharat Bandh condemning fuel price hike: Bandh total in State
Bengaluru, September 10: Bharat Bandh called by the Congress and its allies condemning the fuel price hike in the country on Monday was total and peaceful barring some stray incidents in the state.
Congress and BJP workers engaged in verbal duals in Hubballi, Udupi, Bagalkot and Uttara Kannada districts, miscreants pelted stones at KSRTC buses, agitators tried to lay siege the office of MP Prahlad Joshi, Vatal Nagaraj tried to ride buffalo, while MLC TA Shravan rode horse and police caned the agitators during the bandh on Monday.
Schools and colleges were declared holiday. In some places, the agitators were seen forcefully closing down the fruits, vegetables and medical shops. In Bagalkot, the Congress workers tried to close the shops and other business establishments forcefully. The Congress workers who entered the market during the protest, force shut down the shops and asked the women who were selling fruits on the roadside to leave the place.
As the coalition partners Congress and JDS supported the bandh in the state, the administrative machinery was almost functionless. But the bandh did not have any impact on the proceedings of the courts. The High Court, City Civil Court and Magistrate Courts functioned as usual.
BMTC, KSRTC and Private buses, taxi cabs and autos were off the roads due to which, people suffered a lot at Majestic, KR Market, Shanti Nagar, Mysuru Road, Shivajinagar bus stations. In some places, auto drivers charged double amount than usual fare.
Though bus service started in some parts of the state in the morning, the agitators forcefully stopped the buses. Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists burnt tyres and blocked roads in Mysuru, Davangere, Hubballi, Hassan, Chikmagaluru and others parts, while Congress workers took out a huge protest march in Bengaluru. JDS workers took out protest march in bullock carts and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in several places.
Vatal rides buffalo
Kannada Chalavali Vatal Party president Vatal Nagaraj condemned the fuel price hike in a unique way by riding a buffalo at Majestic bus stand. Speaking on the occasion, Vatal Nagaraj said that more than 2,000 pro-Kannada organizations have supported the bandh. He has rode buffalo condemning the stand of the Narendra Modi government at the centre which failed to check the fuel price hike. The NDA government at the centre has failed on all fronts. If it failed to check the fuel price, people would certainly revolt against it, he warned.
“The state government should not increase the bus fare in the state. This bandh is not just against the central government, but also applies to the state government. We have decided to call for a bandh against fuel price hike. But as the Congress has given the bandh call, we have extended our support to the bandh”, he said.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike led by its president Praveen Shetty took out a protest jatha to the Raj Bhavan condemning the fuel price hike. At Mekri Circle, the agitators pulled the car to protest the fuel price hike. But the police took the agitators who were marching towards Raj Bhavan from Mekri Circle, into custody near Palace Guttahalli.
Indira canteen functions
Though Bharat Bandh is successful across the state, the Indira canteens of the state government functioned as usual on Monday. As the hotels were closed, the general public were dependent on Indira canteens.
Rs 200 cr loss?
It is said that the state Exchequer has incurred a loss of Rs 200 crore in terms of tax collection due to Bharat Bandh. Apart from this, the entire state has incurred more than Rs 2,000 crore loss as the business transaction was stopped completely, it is estimated.
Bandh peaceful at Capital city
No untoward incidents were reported in the State Capital during the Bharat bandh on Monday. The bandh was peaceful. Protests were held at Mysore Bank Circle, Town Hall, Mourya Circle, Railway Station and other parts peacefully, according to City Police Commissioner T Sunil Kumar.
Tight security arrangements were made as a precautionary measure in the city. Additional police force of 15,000 including police commissioners and DCPs were deputed to monitor law and order situation across the city. Apart from this, 30 KSRTP platoons, 200 Hoysala vehicles were deployed for patrolling. The police have taken 14 persons who were misbehaving with the people at Chalukya Circle and 40 persons at Mekri Circle, into custody, Sunil Kumar said.
Protesters lay siege MP Joshi office
JDS activists laid siege the office of Hubballi-Dharwad Lok Sabha Member Prahlad Joshi and protested. Opposing this, the BJP workers staged a protest in front of the Hubballi Satellite Town Police station demanding arrest of JDS workers.
Bandh affects airport too
Bharat Bandh has affected the passengers at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Though the number of passengers coming to the airport was less, the number of foreign travelers was as usual.
The officials tried to send the passengers by Airport taxis. As some pro-Kannada organizations blocked the connecting roads to the airport and protested and the traffic congestion was more due to accidents, the passengers had to suffer a lot.
Modi’s pot of sins has filled to its brim
The pot of Narendra Modi’s ‘sins’ has filled to its brim. The NDA government is at the verge of collapse. They were ruling according to their whims and fancies. Because of this, the rupee value against the dollar was collapsed. The fuel prices were sky-rocketing. It was sure that the NDA would not retain power in the next Lok Sabha election. The people were disappointed because of false assurances of the BJP and they would dethrone Modi from the PM position.
- M Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in Lok Sabha
Prohibitory order at Udupi
Following clash between the Congress and BJP workers during the bandh, police security was beefed up across the Udupi city and clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the City Municipal Council limits, according to an order from the tahsildar. He also warned against conducting any kinds of victory celebrations, or protests and possessing any weapons.
“Our party workers were peacefully protesting. But the police caned them. As a result, one person lost one of his fingers and four others were injured. This issue would be brought to the notice of the District Minister and the Home Minister. The incident would be discussed with the party leaders in the district. If the police caned the party workers without any reason, then the Congress would stage protest in front of the SP office”.
- Vinay Kumar Sorake, former minister
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Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship: How to apply, when to apply; details here
Bengaluru: The Azim Premji Foundation has announced the Azim Premji Scholarship for the academic year 2025–26, aimed at supporting up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 Indian states who are pursuing higher education after completing school. An official release from the foundation also stated that in the coming years the scholarship will be implemented across the country.
When to Apply:
According to a release from the foundation, the application process for the Azim Premji Scholarship 2025–26 will commence in September 2025. “Details of the program and any changes in the program design or coverage will be notified at the start of the application process,” the release added.
Where to Apply:
According to the release, the scholarship this year will be implemented across 18 states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Students residing in these states and enrolled in recognised higher education institutions will be eligible to apply.
How to Apply:
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Girls who have completed their Class 10 and 12 education in government (public) schools and have secured admission in a bona fide higher education institution either a government-run college/university or select private institutions can apply for the scholarship.
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Once the application portal opens in September, students will be required to submit personal details, educational qualifications, proof of admission, and bank account information.
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The scholarship amount ₹30,000 per year will be transferred directly into the students' bank accounts in two instalments each academic year, read the release.
