Kalaburagi: Demanding that Kalaburagi district be declared a green-drought area and to treat heavy rains and floods as natural calamities, a bandh was called by farmers, Dalits, Kannada activists, labourers, women, and the Kalyana Karnataka Horata Samithi.The bandh commenced at 6am, leading to significant disruptions to transport services. Initially, buses began their journeys from the Central Bus Stand before 6am. However, the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation later halted bus operations; as a result, the bus stand was deserted. Despite autorickshaws continuing to operate, shops and hotels at the Central Bus Stand, Ram Mandir, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle remained closed, adversely affecting passengers from distant towns who were unaware of the bandh.Protesters were scattered along the ring roads in the early morning, allowing transport company buses to reach Ram Mandir, Kharge Petrol Station, and Humanabad Cross. Buses from other districts took the outer roads from these points. Passengers travelling to Aland, Afzalpur, Jewargi, Sedam, Shahabad, and Humanabad resorted to cruiser jeeps, with drivers charging double fares.During the bandh, supermarkets in Kalaburagi City were temporarily closed as office bearers of over 20 organisations participated in a large procession from Nagareshwar School in Ganj to Jagat Circle. Upon reaching Jagat Circle, shopkeepers reopened their establishments and resumed normal business activities. Local passengers waiting at the Central Bus Stand continued to wait till the bandh ended at 2pm due to the absence of bus services.Participants in the protest included Karnataka Province Farmers Association District Committee president Sharanbasappa Mamashetty, Akhil Bharat Kisan Sabha District Committee president Bhima Shankar Madiyala, Karnataka Province Agricultural Labourers Association District Committee leader Bhimashetti Yampally, along with farmers, Dalits, women labourers, members of the Kalyana Karnataka Horata Samithi, and farmer leaders from various regions.
