Karnataka bandh: No major impact on normal life so far
Bengaluru: The state-wide bandh called by pro-Kannada groups in Karnataka on Saturday, opposing the government's decision to create a corporation for the Maratha community here has had no major impact on normal life so far, other than sporadic protests and demonstrations by burning effigies.
Auto rickshaws, cabs, public transport buses, and metro services are available as of now, also hotels and provision stores were open.
Though scarce, there are movements of vehicles on roads in various parts of the city and similar reports have come from other parts of the state.
Activists of several Kannada organizations who are gathering near the city's Town Hall for staging demonstrations were detained and taken away by the police.
Protests have also been reported in Chamarajanagara, Bengaluru Rural, Gadag, Koppa, Hassan, Ramanagara, Chitradurga, Davangere, Bagalkote, Chikkamagaluru, Mandya among other districts so far.
A coalition of Kannada organizations led by Vatal Nagaraj have also planned to hold a protest rally in the city from Town Hall to Freedom Park, against the government's decision, later in the day.
Police have made elaborate security arrangements in the city to see that no untoward incidents take place.
Security has been beefed up around Chief Minister's official residence and home office here, where some activists have planned to lay siege.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is in Belagavi to attend the BJP's state executive meeting.
Yediyurappa on Friday had urged the pro-Kannada groups not to go ahead with the bandh, calling it "unnecessary", as he asserted that Kannadigas and Kannada were his government's utmost priority.
Earlier, he had clarified that the decision to set up a Maratha Development Corporation had nothing to do with the Marathi language, and it is for the Maratha community residing in the state.
The pro-Kannada organizations had set a November 30 deadline for the government to withdraw its decision to establish Maratha Development Corporation.
The government's decision to create a body for the Maratha community is seen as a move by the ruling BJP to woo the community ahead of the Belagavi Lok Sabha, Maski, and Basavakalyan assembly bypolls, which are yet to be announced.
The community is said to have a considerable presence there.
The government had earlier announced the setting up of the Maratha Development Authority but subsequently changed it to the corporation, as the authority has to be constituted by law, by passing an act in the legislature.
Despite opposition, the government following the cabinet approval has even issued a formal order establishing the Maratha Development Corporation, with an allocation of Rs 50 crore, which has further irked the pro-Kannada groups.
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JD(S) wants changes in certain provisions in One Nation-One Election proposal
Bengaluru (PTI): The JD(S) has requested its ally BJP to make changes in certain provisions of the proposed 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill linked to the ONOE proposal, particularly the special powers proposed to be given to the ECI to recommend postponement of elections in any state.
The Parliamentary Joint Committee held discussions with political parties in Bengaluru on Saturday regarding the Constitution Amendment Bill connected to 'One Nation-One Election' and sought their suggestions and opinions.
The JD(S) said suitable amendments had been proposed to the provisions empowering the Election Commission of India to recommend to the President the deferment of state elections, while also seeking legal safeguards for the stability of coalition governments and protection for regional parties during simultaneous elections.
"With regard to the Bill, the JD(S) extended support to the Constitutional amendment with certain conditions and amendments, while suggesting safeguards to ensure that regional parties are not adversely affected by the aggressive election campaigns of national parties during simultaneous elections," the statement said.
The party stated that coalition governments have been formed and functioning at both the state and national levels for several decades in recent years, and "there is a need for legal protection to ensure their stability".
"Therefore, it also suggested incorporating legal safeguards for the stability of coalition governments in the proposed Constitutional amendment," the party, headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, said.
The proposed Constitutional amendment grants special powers to the ECI to recommend to the President the postponement of elections in any state. Suitable amendments to these special powers have been proposed, the party said.
"On the above stated subjects, suitable submissions were made to the JPC," the party said in a statement, which has been posted on its 'X' handle.
According to the statement, the JD(S) delegation was led by M Mallesh Babu and included former MP D Kupendra Reddy, former Assembly Deputy Speaker M Krishna Reddy, former minister Venkatrao Nadagouda, MLA T N Javarayi Gowda, former MLA K A Tippeswamy and party legal cell president A P Ranganath.
