The opposition National Democratic Alliance's call for a nationwide bandh on Thursday has left the public and traders jittery. Bengaluru, which was crippled for two days by a bus strike, is not ready to face another day of protest. The shutdown is expected to hit people badly a day after the Ganesha Pooja holiday. The NDA has appealed to farmers, workers, transporters, shopkeepers, traders' organisations and all "patriotic-minded citizens" to join the shutdown and protest the "anti-people measures" of the Union government.
As a BJP-ruled State, Karnataka is expected to be hit hard as party workers are mobilising traders to support the bandh. With foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail being one of the issues the NDA is protesting against, local retailers themselves are keen to join the protest. Suhail Yusuf, president of the Brigade Road Shops and Establishments Association said: "Trade will be completely shut during Bharat bandh on Thursday. The bandh call has our total support as we are strongly opposing FDI in retail. FDI in retail will make us local traders slaves of giant foreign companies."
FKCCI Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry president K. Shiva Shanmugam says the organisation is also supporting the bandh. "We have written to all the 28 district chambers of commerce to support the bandh. Trade on Thursday will be totally shut. Industry will be more or less shut too. We have requested the State government to oppose FDI in retail."
However, KASSIA president Vijayendranath said: "We are not supporting the bandh. It only means further losses to industry and trade. People who call for such bandhs are not interested in the public good." Another sore point is the recent hike in diesel prices, which hits transporters. Many transporters and drivers' unions are thus expected to join the protest.
The All India Motor Transport Congress, on Tuesday, extended its support to the bandh. The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Drivers' Association has also extended its support. "The central government hiked the diesel price. The AIMTC and the Federation has called for a one-day strike against fuel price hike on Thursday. We are supporting the strike and have appealed to other associations to join hands with us," said K. Radhakrishna Holla, general secretary, Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association.
However, airport taxis and city cabs run by Meru, Easy and many other private operators will operate on Thursday. R. Somasekhar, president of the Bangalore Auto Drivers' Union said: "We are not supporting the bandh. The opposition parties have called for a bandh to polarise votes. This is something out of which the public will get only inconvenience." Some other auto unions though are supporting the bandh and will be off the road.
The KSRTC and BMTC services are expected to operate normally, depending on the law and order situation. KSRTC managind director Manjunatha Prasad said: "We are taking bookings and will operate on Thursday. In case of an untoward incident during the bandh, we will make a decision based on the law and order situation on that day."
BMTC MD K.R. Sreenivasa said: "All the buses of BMTC will operate as per schedule on Thursday. However, we will keep a close watch on the law and order situation and take a decision based on that."