Karnataka Bandh: What will be closed, What will remain open?

Bengaluru: The dawn to dusk bandh call given by Vatal Nagaraj, president of a pro-Kannada outfit, Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha demanding Central government's intervention in the Mahadayi water dispute, has got a political color with the BJP alleging it to be 'Congress sponsored'.

Even there seems to be no unity among the pro-Kannada leaders in connection with the bandh call. While Vatal Nagaraj led fraction is hellbent on going ahead with bandh, another pro-Kannada organisation Karave state president Narayana Gowda has not supported him. Another fraction of Karave led by Praveen Shetty has indirectly supported Vatal Nagaraj's bandh call given on January 25 but denied any support to bandh call in Bengaluru on February 4.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions in its statement said that government-run buses will ply as usual. “KSRTC and BMTC buses will ply in the state on January 25. However, regarding BMTC buses stopping services on February 4, we have not yet decided,” said Anantha Subbarao, General Secretary of All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

Meanwhile, the BMTC and KSRTC bus drivers who are a part of the Transport Corporation’s Kannada Sangha said that they are supporting the bandh. “If the drivers do not show up for work, then services will be hit; but the services will not be stopped,” the member added.The Bengaluru Metro will be fully operational on both days of the bandh.

Private taxi drivers union said that they will be working on Thursday. "We will be working that day. We support the bandh, but we may not take taxis off the road." said Tanveer Pasha, President of Ola, TaxiForSure and Uber Drivers Association.

Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce too has extended its support to Vatal Nagaraj and there will be no film shooting nor any screenings. Meanwhile, Private schools union secretory Shashi Kumar too said that they have declared holiday for the private institutions in support of the bandh call.However, Taxi Owner's Union, Hotel Owners Union have not supported the bandh call.