Bengaluru: 5K farmers expected to protest today against government policies on farm sector
Bangalore Mirror Bureau / Updated: Sep 28, 2020, 08:59 IST
Farmers will march from Town Hall to Freedom Park; all PSUs will function, but be prepared for jams
Nearly 5,000 farmers are expected to participate in the rally being organised from Town Hall to Freedom Park in the City on Monday, as part of the state-wide protest against the State and Central government policies about the farm sector. While the rally may affect the movement of vehicles on some roads, there is unlikely to be much disruption in the transport services such as cabs, auto-rickshaws and buses.
The state government has issued a direction to public sector undertakings such as Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to run normal services. Only a few employees might stay away from the work as authorities have warned of disciplinary action against those who do not report to duty, it's learned.
Cab and auto-rickshaw unions are divided over their support of the dawn-to-dusk bandh called by farmers associations, trade unions, rights groups and organisations. "The union has extended moral support to the protest. The livelihood of drivers has already been affected due to the pandemic. Hence, we have left it to the individual drivers to support the bandh or not," M Manjunath of Adarsha Auto Rickshaw and Taxi union said.
JD(S) leader Tanveer Pasha, who is also president of Ola, Taxiforsure, Uber Owners and Drivers Association said they are supporting the bandh. "Over 80% of the drivers hail from farmers' family. Hence, we will stay off the road for the entire day," he said. JM Veerasangaiah of Karnataka State Raitha Sangha said nearly 5,000 farmers would assemble at Town Hall. "The rally would commence at 11 am. It will culminate at Freedom Park by 1 pm. We expect another 2,000 people to join us during the rally," he said.
Meanwhile, police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure law and order by deploying 64 platoons of Karnataka reserve police along with city police force in and around the city. City police commissioner Kamal Pant told the media they have not given permission to anyone to carry out bandh or rallies.
Bandh checklist
* Trains: Running as usual
* Metro: Will ply
* KSRTC/BMTC: Plan to continue plying buses
* Schools/Colleges: Online classes to continue
* Hotels: To remain open
* Petrol bunks: To remain open
* ATMs: To remain open
* Banks: Functioning as usual
* Autos/Cabs: A few may be plying while others may be off road
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