Several Kannada organisations call for K'taka bandh today

The Karnataka government has not declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the State in view of the bandh. Meanwhile, the cab operators, autorickshaw drivers and many others have not extended support as of now.

Mangaluru (Karnataka):Some pro-Kannada organisations have called for a bandh on Thursday demanding more jobs for Kannadigas in both government and private sectors.

According to Sarojini Mahishi's report, there should be a certain percentage of the job to Kannadigas in public sector undertakings (PSUs), private companies in the State.

The Karnataka government has not declared an official holiday for schools and colleges in the State for the bandh today. The cab operators, autorickshaw drivers and many others have not extended support as of now. But the online taxi services, operated by app-based cab aggregators, have been suspended across Karnataka on Thursday.

Sources said that some miscreants have pelted stones on Andhra Pradesh's tourism bus at Pirangipet in Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district. Pro-Kannada activists were on the city appealing to traders to shut their shops in their support.

In Anekal near Attibele in the city on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, activists reportedly tried to shut shops and business establishments forcibly.

The main trade area of the city, KR Market and surrounding places had no effect of the bandh in the morning hours. Heavy deployment of policemen has been made at important locations to check untoward incidents.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had appealed the pro-Kannada organisations to keep their agitation peaceful.

He said his government always stood for Kannada and Kannadigas and initiated measures to implement the Sarojini Mahishi report.

Notably, Sarojini Mahishi's final report was submitted in December 1986 and the Karnataka government has already said that it is working on the implementation of the report.

(with PTI inputs)