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Karnataka Bandh : Wait for at least six months to see results, Yediyurappa tells farmers as protests intensify

Hundreds of farmers under various associations and activists took to the streets against the anti-farmer legislations as the police forced struggled to ensure law and order across the state.

Several Congress and JD(S) workers were detained on Monday amid the statewide bandh, to protest against the amendments to the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act and land reforms acts made by the B S Yediyurappa government, news agency ANI reported. Hundreds of farmers under various associations and activists took to the streets against the anti-farmer legislations as the police forced struggled to ensure law and order across the state.

“We have not given permission for any protests in the city. We will deploy 12,000 civil police, 47 KSRP, 24 CAR platoons in Bengaluru. Senior police officials have been deployed to supervise the situation,” Bengaluru City Commissioner Kamal Pant said.

The demonstrations were against two important amendments to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act passed by the Karnataka Assembly despite strong objection by the opposition parties, mainly the Congress and JD(S). The amendment to the KLR Act lifts restrictions on purchasing agricultural land and enables any individual to purchase it.

Congress is taking u-turn on Farm Bills: Tejasvi Surya

BJP’s Tejasvi Surya says, "Farmers know that Farm Bills passed by the government is for their welfare. Congress, which is today, protesting against the bills had earlier promised in its manifesto to bring these reforms if it comes to power. But since Modi govt has done it now, Congress is taking u-turn."

Various organisations supporting farmers and the Karnataka Bandh plunged into the protest against the recent amendments to Land Reforms, APMC, Electricity and Labour Acts by the Karnataka government.

Karnataka bandh: Police detained protesters in Bengaluru

The Bengaluru police on Monday afternoon detained protesters who were protesting against amendments to farm laws, APMC and labour laws.

Hundreds of protesters who gathered at Myuru Bank circle are being detained and taken in BMTC buses to City Armed Reserve (CAR) headquarters and KSRP Parade Ground in Madiwala.

Political outfits lend support to bandh in Karnataka

The dawn-to-dusk bandh call in Karnataka has been supported by several pro-Kannada and other outfits along with opposition Congress and the JD(S) party, who had also opposed the amendment bills in the assembly.

The bandh is also backed by several labour organisations who are protesting against amendments to certain labour laws during the brief assembly session that concluded on Saturday.

Pro Kannada organisation ’Karnataka Rakshna Vedike’ activists barged inside Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport to mark their protest, while the Karnataka Rakshna Vedike were detained by police near Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, Congress State chief DK Shivakumar met the farmers who are on a protest and extended their support to Karnataka Bandh.

Bengaluru police set up checkpoints along airport route

In the wake of the protests, Bengaluru Police on Monday requested air travellers to cooperate with police checkpoints along the airport routes. CK Baba, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East Division, Bengaluru City, said, “Air travellers are requested to cooperate with police checkpoints along the  airport. Please avoid accompanying people to drop passengers. Only passengers with valid ticket or boarding pass are being allowed in the airport today.” The police have also set up checkpoints in all the main roads and highways to stop protesters from entering inside the city.
14:32 (IST)28 Sep 2020
Protests in Bengaluru slows down traffic

While public transport in the state ran as usual, traffic in the capital city was disrupted due to the protests. Auto-rickshaws and private cab services in the city were unavailable. Limited shops and other commercial establishments remained open in Bengaluru.

Protests in Bengaluru slows down traffic

While public transport in the state ran as usual, traffic in the capital city was disrupted due to the protests. Auto-rickshaws and private cab services in the city were unavailable. Limited shops and other commercial establishments remained open in Bengaluru.

State owned public transport to remain unaffected: Deputy CM

Despite the bandh, state owned public transport bus and metro services are scheduled to operate normally. Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who is also the incharge of transport department, on Sunday clarified that services of all the four state road transport corporations and even the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation will be available, and the Police Department has been requested to provide additional security.
Karnataka govt warns of action against statewide bandh

The Karnataka government had earlier warned of stern action against any forcible enforcement of the bandh. It said that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure there was no disruption to the normal functioning of its offices, hospitals, shops and establishments and maintaining services of taxis and buses.

Karnataka Bandh: Areas that have been affected

The protests were staged at important locations in Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Ballari, Raichur, Chitradurga, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Bidar, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dharwad and Davangere among others. In Bengaluru, several agitations were staged in Mysuru Bank circle, Town Hall, Yelahanka and Ballari Road.