Life hit in four districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka region, Kharge leads march
KALABURAGI: There was a good response to the Bharat Bandh call in Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Raichur districts in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Life almost came to a standstill in these districts as buses run by the North Eastern Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) and other corporations and also private vehicles remained off the roads. Schools and colleges were closed as the district administration had declared a holiday in these districts, while the attendance was thin in most government offices.
In Kalaburagi city, the bandh received a very good response as all shops, hotels and business establishments remained closed since dawn. The protesters set tyres on fire at many road junctions to express their anger against spiralling fuel prices. Leader of the Congress group in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and former minister Dr Sharanprakash Patil led the procession taken out by Congress workers from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle while Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader Maruthi Manpade led the procession organised by Left parties at the main bus stand.
Addressing the agitators, Mr Kharge made a scathing attack on the Modi government for the trouble caused to the common man due t the spiralling prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. “The Modi government has failed to fulfil its promises made before the poll. The rise in prices of petrol, diesel and gas is unprecedented. We demand that petrol and diesel be brought under the ambit of GST as it will lead to a reduction in the price by Rs 10-15 per litre,” Mr Kharge asserted.
In Raichur City, MP B.V. Naik, DCC president Ramanna Irabgera, Raichur Rural MLA Daddal Basangouda and others led the procession by travelling in a bullock cart. In Yadgir and Bidar, the bandh elicited a mixed response. Congress workers led by DCC President Marigowda Hulkal took out a procession in Bidar. The police resorted to a mild lathicharge at Ambedkar Circle to prevent a clash between some protesters who tried to force the closure of shops, and shop owners.
