Bengaluru bandh call likely to bring city to a halt on September 26

Bengaluru to face total bandh on Sep 26: Kannada orgs, farmers, transport unions, private schools, film industry, hotels/restaurants, cab drivers, Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union support. Private schools extend moral support, eateries open. Police step up security.

The Bengaluru bandh call given by a coalition of farmers and Kannada organisations under the aegis of Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti will in likelihood bring the city to a halt on September 26, Tuesday.

With opposition parties announcing support for the bandh call and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the government would not try to scuttle any protests in a democracy, indications are that the bandh will likely be total.

Within hours of the bandh call being given, several organisations, including public and private transport unions, private school managements, film industry and hotels and restaurants associations, announced their support. 

The KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation, which includes Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation employees, also has supported the bandh call and has urged BMTC crew to abstain from operating bus services from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at all depots. However, BMTC officials maintained that services will not be affected.

Meanwhile, people who rely on cabs for their daily commute may face disruptions, as the taxi unions in Bengaluru have chosen to endorse the Bengaluru Bandh on Tuesday.

“We consistently stand in solidarity with issues concerning our water, language, and culture. Consequently, we have chosen to participate in the bandh on Tuesday. All cab drivers will refrain from working on that day to show our support for our farmers,” said Tanveer Pasha, the president of Ola, Uber Drivers and Owners’ Association in Bengaluru.

The Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union of Bengaluru is currently undecided about supporting the bandh. General Secretary T.M. Rudramurthy said, “We have not made a decision on supporting the bandh yet. We will consult with our members before reaching a conclusion.”