A 12-hour statewide bandh has been called in Karnataka today by pro-Kannada organizations in response to last month’s alleged assault on a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor in Belagavi. The conductor was reportedly attacked for not knowing Marathi, a development that has intensified linguistic tensions in the region. Authorities have implemented extensive security arrangements, with home guards and city armed reserve units deployed across the state to maintain law and order during the shutdown, which will be in effect from 6 AM to 6 PM.
The bandh is expected to impact public transport services, as several auto-rickshaw, cab, and private driver unions have extended their support. However, state-run transport services, including KSRTC and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), will remain operational. Meanwhile, hotel associations, malls, bars, and restaurants have extended only moral support to the protest. Essential services such as pharmacies, hospitals, ambulances, petrol pumps, and metro services will continue to function as usual.
Despite the ongoing shutdown, schools and colleges across Karnataka remain open. However, disruptions in transport services may pose difficulties for students, particularly those appearing for Class 10 board exams today. Addressing the bandh, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated that the government does not endorse the shutdown. He urged people to maintain peace and abide by the law, emphasizing that there is no need for a bandh.
While major pro-Kannada groups like Karnataka Rakshana Vedike factions led by T A Narayana Gowda and Praveen Shetty have distanced themselves from the protest, the bandh has still garnered significant participation from various other groups demanding justice for the bus conductor.
Belagavi Incident and Maharashtra-Karnataka Tensions
The unrest stems from an incident last month in which a KSRTC bus conductor was allegedly assaulted by a group of individuals for not responding in Marathi. According to the police complaint, a female passenger had requested a ticket in Marathi. When the conductor replied that he did not understand Marathi and asked her to speak in Kannada, she and her male companion allegedly assaulted him. The situation escalated when a larger group intercepted the bus and physically attacked the conductor.
Following the incident, the police arrested four individuals linked to the assault. However, the case took a controversial turn when the bus conductor himself was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after the female passenger accused him of inappropriate behavior.
A day later, the conflict appeared to take a retaliatory turn when a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus driver was attacked in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district. The victim, Bhaskar Jadhav, was smeared with black paint by unidentified individuals. Days later, an ultra-luxury KSRTC bus was vandalized in Maharashtra, with slogans such as ‘Jai Maharashtra’ and ‘Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’ inscribed on it in black paint.
As tensions escalated, Maharashtra authorities decided to halt MSRTC bus services to Karnataka. In response, Karnataka also reduced its bus operations to Maharashtra, further straining relations between the two states. The ongoing bandh highlights the deepening linguistic and regional tensions, with pro-Kannada groups demanding stricter action against those responsible for the attack on the bus conductor and seeking a resolution to the growing discord between the two states.
