Mangaluru: After BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa called for a state wide bundh on Monday, May 28, to demand the newly formed state government to waive off farmers’ loans, the bundh failed to garner much support from the pro-farmers organizations across the state.
Mocking the ‘failed’ attempt of the BJP at calling for a bundh across the state, MLC Ivan D’ Souza said, “The call for a strike has not garnered any support from the people. This is only a blackmailing gimmick by the BJP leaders. They are misleading the people and diverting the attention of the people. The BJP had failed to waive off farmers’s loans when it was in power in the state. Even the BJP-lead Union government has failed to do so.”
“BJP leader Yeddyurappa called for a state-wide strike without giving sufficient time to the government,” he added.
He then stated that the coalition government was committed to waiving off farmers’ loans and assured that a decision would be made after an analysis of the economic stability was made.
Commenting on the recent assembly election results in the state, Ivan said that the Congress party gained a larger share of the votes than the BJP. He also alleged that the Congress lost the elections in the Dakshina Kannada district because of the BJP’s communal politics and violence.
With regard to the upcoming teachers’ and graduates’ elections, he said that he would be campaigning in the entire South West Teachers’ Constituency in favor of the Congress party’s candidates.
Successful bandh in Madikeri
There was positive response in Madikeri and Virajpet, to the BJP’s call for a state-wide bundh. In support of the bundh, private buses ceased functioning and shops, business and other establishments remained closed. KSRTC bus services remained unaffected.
People have also supported the bundh in Gonikoppal. They closed their business establishments and private buses also halted their service.
Reportedly, MLA KG Bopaiah and MLC Sunil Subramani were waylaying vehicles near the General Thimmaiah Circle in Madikeri, demanding that they support the bundh. A tense atmosphere prevails as representatives continue to waylay vehicles, despite police personnel being deployed for security.
