Karnataka bandh: Pro-Kannada activists submit memorandum to CM Yediyurappa

The protesters have demanded for the immediate implementation of Dr Sarojini Mahishi Committee report which seeks jobs for Kannadigas in private and public sector undertakings  

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday met pro-Kannada activists who have called for Karnataka bandh.

The pro-Kannada activists submitted a memorandum to chief minister Yediyurappa and according to sources, the protesters have demanded for the immediate implementation of the Dr Sarojini Mahishi Committee report.

The report was finalised in 1986 and it recommended job reservations for Kannadigas in government jobs, public sector units and even in the private sector. It made 58 recommendations. Of these, 45 recommendations were accepted by the state government for implementation.

CM Yediyurappa has asked the protesters to call off their bandh, however, the agitation is yet to come to rest.  

Meanwhile, online taxi services being operated by app-based cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber have suspended operations across Karnataka state till Thursday evening in the view of the bandh.

Pro-Kannada activist Praveen Shetty has also been kept under house arrest.

The bandh did not affect the PU exams, which were conducted as per schedule. Students of Mount Carmel College in Bengaluru said that they were told to watch the news early morning and appear for the exams.

A PU department official had said on Wednesday that “The PU I exams will go ahead as scheduled.”

Karnataka minister for primary and secondary education, S Suresh Kumar had also said, “There will be no holiday for schools or colleges on Thursday owing to the Karnataka bandh. However, the local officials can take a call depending upon situation in respective areas.”

"Neither the education department nor the government has declared any holiday for schools and colleges. The government has given free hand to the deputy commissioners of each area to make a decision depending on the law and order situation of the area,” he added.