Karnataka bandh planned for March 22 by pro-Kannada groups

A group of pro-Kannada organizations has announced a Karnataka Bandh for March 22, from 6 AM to 6 PM. This protest comes during the exam season, but no SSLC exams are scheduled for that day. Schools will continue with classes for lower grades to avoid affecting students. The bandh aims to protest against the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill and recent violence in the Belagavi area, where a bus conductor was attacked for not speaking Marathi. Vatal Nagaraj, a leader of the protesting groups, stressed the need to oppose the division of Bengaluru into multiple governance zones. While many support the bandh, the Kannada Rakshana Vedike faction chose not to participate. Their leader, TA Narayana Gowda, expressed concerns about the impact of the bandh on people's livelihoods and emphasized finding solutions instead of protesting. N Ashok Kumar from a cab drivers’ group expressed strong support for the bandh, citing difficulties caused by competition from bike taxis. He announced that no cabs would operate on the protest day. Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee for KSRTC unions is considering their decision on bus services based on public convenience. Schools described their support for the protest but confirmed they would not cancel exams to protect students' interests. Additionally, auto rickshaw drivers have stated they will join the bandh, which could involve around 20,000 drivers in the city.