Bharat Bandh: Second day evokes good response across state
Buses stoned, more than 60 buses damaged
# Bus services hampered, normal life paralyzed
Bengaluru, Jan 9: The Bharat Bandh called by labour organisations against the anti-labour policies of the central government on Wednesday evoked good response across the state and majority of labour organisations took to the streets ànd protested against the central government policies.
On the first day, the bandh was restricted just to symbolic protest. But on the second day, the labourers took to the streets due to which almost all factories and industries in the state remained closed.
ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, mid-day meals workers, gram Panchayat workers and others working under Various sectors participated in the protest.
As the KSRTC, BMTC and other transportation companies were on the roads. As some miscreants pelted stones at buses, the service of BMTC buses was suspended till afternoon.
Except holiday announced for schools and colleges in Raichur and Ballari districts, the schools and colleges were remained open. The labourers staged protests in Tumkur, Mandya, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagar, Hosakote, Nelamangala, Hassan, Davangere, Hubballi, Shivamogga, Karwar, Mysuru, Kalaburgi, Belagavi, Gadag and Mangaluru and made the bandh a success.
Buses stoned
While staging protests, miscreants pelted stones at buses due to which more than 60 buses were damaged. Four buses each in Ballari and Nelamangala, five in Ramanagar and 12 KSRTC buses in Bengaluru were damaged. Around 47 BMTC buses were stoned. A BMTC bus driver was injured, it is said.
50 lakh labourers participated
"In the two days, around 20 crore labourers including 50 lakh in state participated in the bandh and created a history."
- S Varalakshmi, CITU State President
"The central government has planned to pledge more than 120 crore people and resources to the foreign contractors. Condemning this, many protests were conducted earlier. Even then, this bandh got importance and crores of labourers supported it".
- HV Anantha Subbarao, AITUC President
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Hindi not national language, it is official language: Ex-cricketer Ashwin
Chennai (PTI): Former cricketer R Ashwin has said Hindi was not the country's national language but only an official language.
He made these comments while attending the convocation of a private college near here on Thursday, where he asked the students in what language they would like him to address them.
While a few preferred English and there was overwhelming support when he gave the option of addressing them in Tamil, there seemed to be no takers for Hindi.
"Hindi --no response. I thought I will say it (Hindi) is not our national language, but an official language," the former India all-rounder said.
