'Bharat Bandh': No major impact on normal life in Karnataka in initial hours
Don't cause inconvenience to public, says CM
Bengaluru(PTI): The 'Bharat Bandh' called by farmer unions to protest the Centre's three farm laws has not had any major impact on the normal life in the initial few hours since it began on Monday, with all business and establishments functioning normally and transport services available.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed to farmer unions that have called for the bandh not to cause inconvenience to public who are just recovering from the impact of COVID-19, and asked them to express their difference in any other form.
The protest by farmers and attempts by them to organise a 'Rasta Roko' on major national and state highways during the dawn-to-dusk bandh has led to disruption in vehicular movement in several parts of the state, especially in Bengaluru, and this is likely to intensify later in the day, with more farmers gathering.
Farmers' organisations have planned a protest march to Town Hall from K R Puram and other parts of Bengaluru city and will converge there at about 11 am, for a rally, farmer leader Kodihalli Chandrashekar said.
There are also reports about police detaining some protesters and farmer leaders.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Hubbali, the chief minister appealed the protesters to express their protest in any other forms, but not to cause inconvenience to public by observing a bandh.
"People have just started recovering from COVID and are indulging in businesses and other financial activities, people should not face any trouble again....I have appealed to the protesters not to cause inconvenience to people and cooperate," Bommai said.
Police have been instructed to take all the necessary precautionary measures to maintain peace and order in the wake of Bharat Bandh, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said in a statement on Sunday night.
Directions have been given to maintain a special vigil to see to it that no untoward incidents take place in Bengaluru city, district centres and all sensitive areas in the state, he said.
With several organisations only extending moral support for the bandh, it is unlikely to have any major impact on the normal life in the city and other parts of the state, police sources said.
Citing losses due to COVID pandemic and its induced lockdown, public transport (KSRTC and BMTC) employees' unions, hotel owners association, lorry, auto, rickshaw and taxi owners unions have said they support the protest, but will continue to operate. Metro services are also operating as usual.
The Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS), association of private schools in the state had said that schools will remain open and they are extending only moral support for the bandh.
Restaurants and eateries were seen functioning as usual.
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Congress promotes ‘vote chori’ campaign through Instagram video featuring Kay Kay Menon
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New Delhi: The Congress party, which recently launched its “Vote Chori” (vote theft) campaign demanding transparency in voter rolls, has released a promotional video on Instagram featuring actor Kay Kay Menon.
The video was shared with the caption: “Himmat Singh kuch keh rahe hain, jaldi se kar aao! Band karo”, translated as “Himmat Singh is saying something, go and do it quickly! Stop it.” It was followed by instructions to join the campaign: “To join the campaign — click the link in the bio or give a missed call to 9650003420.”
Himmat Singh is the name of the intelligence officer character portrayed by Kay Kay Menon in the Hotstar Specials series Special Ops.
The “Vote Chori” campaign, led by Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleges large-scale manipulation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Karnataka’s Bangalore Central constituency, through fake voter entries, duplicate names, and invalid addresses. The campaign portal, votechori.in, enables citizens to access alleged evidence, report voter list discrepancies, and receive a digital certificate supporting the demand for machine-readable digital voter rolls.
The Election Commission has rejected the allegations as “false and misleading” and has asked Gandhi to either provide a signed declaration with supporting evidence under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, or issue a public apology. The BJP has described the campaign as a political stunt.
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