Bidar bandh call evokes good response

Bidar bandh against Amit Shah's remarks on Ambedkar received good response, disrupting commercial activities and city transportation.

The Bidar bandh call given by Dalit organisations condemning Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on B.R. Ambedkar in Parliament and demanding his resignation received a good response from residents on Thursday.

Commercial activities came to a standstill for most of the day as hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, banks, trading units at the agricultural market and other commercial establishments remained closed till evening.

Busses operated by State-owned Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation remained off the roads.

Private city commuting facilities such as autos were also disrupted. The movement of private two-wheelers and cars was also rare. Most of the city wore a deserted look most of the day except for places where the agitators took out processions and held public meetings.

Hospitals, pharmacies and other establishments offering essential services continued to function as usual. Though government offices were open, the public presence was very low as transport services were hit by the agitations. The district administration declared a holiday for the day.

Since transport services were disrupted, people were found coming to the city on foot as buses were stopped outside the city. Buses belonging to neighbouring Maharashtra and Telangana returned from the city outskirts itself. People were found walking with their luggage to and from Bidar Railway Station.

Holding blue flags, banners and Dr. Ambedkar’s portraits, hundreds of Dalit activists took to the streets at multiple locations since morning appealing to the public to support their cause.