Pro-Kannada outfits have called for a statewide shutdown from 6 am to 6 pm on Saturday to protest against the alleged assault on a KSRTC bus conductor in Belagavi last month for not speaking Marathi.
Bengaluru | Updated: March 22, 2025 08:04 IST
On Saturday, associations representing KSRTC and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) employees expressed solidarity with the bandh but their services are set to continue.
Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Jagadeesha G on Friday clarified that there will be no holiday for schools and colleges in Bengaluru on Saturday due to the bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits.
The protestors have called for a statewide shutdown from 6 am to 6 pm on Saturday to protest against the alleged assault on a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor in Belagavi last month for not speaking Marathi.
Alongside the language war, the protestors have demanded a withdrawal of Bengaluru Metro fare hike and the Greater Bengaluru Authority Bill, passed by the state government in the ongoing Budget session.
Robert Khin, principal of Bethany School said, “The home science paper for the ISC exam is scheduled on Saturday. The council has not taken any decision to shut down the school in view of the bandh. Additionally, it is also not a state-supported bandh, is what we understand. Parents have collectively agreed to drop their wards on their own to school for the examination without depending on public transport.”
Meanwhile, some of the staff belonging to CBSE schools will be working for evaluation purposes.
The organisers of the bandh have outlined several demands, including a ban on pro-Marathi groups and Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) within Karnataka, accusing them of perpetuating violence and disrupting harmony. They have also sought to implement measures to safeguard the rights and dignity of Kannada-speaking individuals, especially in border areas like Belagavi. They are also opposing the proposed division of Bengaluru into multiple administrative zones, which some believe could dilute Kannada’s cultural identity. Additionally, the cab drivers and autorickshaw associations are also protesting seeking a ban on two-wheeler taxi services, which they argue is affecting their business.