Karnataka bandh scheduled for March 22 affects Bengaluru

A Karnataka bandh is planned for March 22, organized by pro-Kannada groups. This 12-hour shutdown will run from 6 am to 6 pm. The protest is in response to an attack on a KSRTC bus conductor in Belagavi. The incident occurred in February when the conductor was allegedly assaulted by pro-Marathi groups for not speaking in Marathi. This event has heightened ethnic and linguistic tensions in the area. Bengaluru will also experience the bandh, and public services could be disrupted. Bus services across the state may be unavailable, as many KSRTC and BMTC employees aim to show support for the cause. There is currently no official word on whether schools and colleges will close for the day, but the timing of the bandh raises concerns for students with ongoing exams. Ride-hailing services like Ola and Uber, as well as auto-rickshaw unions, have pledged their support for the bandh. This may lead to further disruptions in transportation. The hotel and film industries have also indicated their backing for the shutdown, though the exact effects on their operations remain unclear. The organizers of the Karnataka bandh are calling for justice and action following the attack on the bus conductor.