Various Dalit and backward classes organisations in the city have given a call for Mysuru bandh on Tuesday in protest against Union Minister Amit Shah’s reported remarks against B.R. Ambedkar.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, president of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum, K.S. Shivaram, appealed to various organisations, including auto drivers’ association, theatre owners’ association, hotel owners’ association, besides malls and owners of shops and business establishments to extend their support to the bandh.
The bandh will be observed from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., said Mr Shivaram while regretting that Mr. Shah had not even been served a notice for his remarks. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drop him from the Union Cabinet immediately.
Mr. Shivaram said the BJP had made no contribution to the country except promoting communalism spreading hate in society.
Former Mayor Purushotham, who also spoke, said he was hopeful of support from various sections of society for the bandh.
He also promised that the bandh would be peaceful.
Representatives of various organisations, including the Social Democratic Party of India, leaders of Madiwala community, Uppara Sangha and other Dalit outfits were also present at the press conference and extended support to the bandh call.
Meanwhile, Mysuru District Congress Committee president, B.J. Vijaykumar, in a statement here, said that freedom fighters, social workers, religious leaders and Conress leaders would congregate near Ambedkar statue at Dasappa circle in the city as part of the bandh call.
MCCI support
The Mysuru Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has announced its moral support to the bandh call. Its president, K.B. Lingaraju, said MCCI would always be in the forefront of struggles against threat to the region’s water, land, border, language, and culture.
Hotels to be open
Meanwhile, the Hotel Owners’ Association of Mysuru, which had initially announced moral support to the bandh, issued a statement on Monday evening, clarifying that hotels and restaurants would remain open.
Association president, Narayana Gowda, pointed out that the hotel industry came under the essential services category. The government should support the hotel industry that met the requirement of food and water for tourists and the patients visiting hospitals.
The culture of bandh, which started during the freedom struggle against British rule, was not relevant at present, said Mr. Gowda. Instead of calling for a bandh, people should find alternative forms of protest, he said.
Mandya bandh
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned here that various organisations had called for Mandya bandh also on Tuesday in protest against Mr. Shah’s remarks against Ambedkar.
Published – January 06, 2025 08:53 pm IST