Monday Bandh to Spare Essentials
Bangalore, Jul 3 (DHNS): Several organisations have decided to ensure a total shutdown on Monday from 6 am to 6 pm, when the Left parties and the NDA observe Bharat bandh against the recent fuel price hike.
However, essential commodities and services will not be hit and security will be tightened to avoid any unforseen incidents, officials said. The Karnataka Milk Federation, extending support to the strike, requested the organisers not to obstruct the transportation and distribution of milk.
“We have also been affected by the increase in the fuel prices. Hence, we backed the strike, but asked the organisers to spare milk from the strike,” an official said. The KMF has also asked individual milk unions to be “prepared” for the bandh and make arrangements for extra supply.
The 60,000-odd autorickshaws and taxis in the City will also remain off roads, with the autorickshaw drivers’ unions deciding to back the strike. According to president of the Autorickshaw Drivers' Organisations’ United Struggle Committee, M Manjunath, the unions were joining the strike to push for an increase in minimum fare. Government buses, both Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), will ply as usual.
“All our inter-State services, including Airavata (Volvo) services will be plying as usual. We have issued general instructions to all depots across the State to exercise caution. If any violence erupts, we will withdraw sector-specific services,” said K A Rajkumar, General Manager (Operations) of the KSRTC.
However, the BMTC has postponed observation of the monthly ‘Bus Day’ programme from July 5 to 7 in view of the bandh. Truck operators, too, have backed the bandh in the State.