Bus services hit by bandh in Mysuru, shops remained closed in protest against remarks of Amit Shah about Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Karnataka State Backward Classes’ Awareness Forum president Shivaram said, “Though the bandh had caused some inconvenience to the people, the protest was necessary to protect the Constitution.” He demanded the immediate sacking of Amit Shah from the Union Cabinet.

City bus services were hit while shops and business establishments in the Central Business District of Mysuru remained closed on January 7 in response to a call for a bandh given by Dalit and backward classes organisations in protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks against Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

Activists of various Dalit organisations and Karnataka State Backward Classes’ Awareness Forum gathered near the suburban bus stand with an effigy of Mr Amit Shah and shouted slogans against him. Congress leaders, led by Mysuru district Congress president B. J. Vijaykumar, took out a march through the D. Devaraj Urs Road to protest against the Union Minister’s remarks.

Activists gathered near suburban bus stand in the morning and blocked the road, preventing KSRTC buses from plying to destinations outside the city.

KSRTC officials were waiting for clearance from the police to resume operations that were suspended around 9 a.m.

Karnataka State Backward Classes’ Awareness Forum president Shivaram said the bandh called against Amit Shah’s alleged remarks against the Constitution had received a good response. “Several shops and business establishments in the city had voluntarily downed shutters in response to the call for a bandh from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Though the bandh had caused some inconvenience to the people, the protest was necessary to protect the Constitution,” he said while demanding the immediate sacking of Mr Shah from the Union Cabinet.