Bharat Bandh Draws Mix Response, Karnataka Bus Services Resume in Bengaluru, Shimoga, Davanagere and Other Areas

Bengaluru, Sep 10: After a brief shutdown in Karnataka, bus services resumed in Davanagere, Chamarajnagar, Kolar, Kolar Gold Fields, Bengaluru, Shimoga and Tumkur on Monday afternoon, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) informed. The 'Bharat Bandh' call given by Congress and several opposition parties over rising petrol and diesel prices on Monday evoked a mixed response. Scores of leaders belonging to 21 political parties took part in the nationwide shutdown called by the Congress.

In the wake of Bandh, normal life was hit in some states with offices and educational institutes closed and vehicles off the roads. Schools and colleges were shut in Karnataka’s Bengaluru as a preventive measure. It must be noted that in Bengaluru, the Congress shares power with JD(S). The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, KSRTC, BMTC, Ola and Uber Drivers and Owners Association, Auto Drivers' Association were also shut as they extended their support to the Bharat Bandh in Karnataka.

Among the other demands, the party also demanded that petrol and diesel should be brought under GST, by which oil prices could drop by about Rs 15 to Rs. 18. Reports inform that seven Left parties, including CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Forward Block, CPI(ML), Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) and Communist Ghadar Party of India, staged a demonstration at various places. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Samajwadi Party (SP), among others, have extended support to the nationwide shutdown.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 10, 2018 04:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).