Kundapur: Bandh for Halady Gets Huge Support from Locals, Normal Life Disrupted
Pics: Silvester D'Souza, Suvarna Brahmavar and Aishwarya Beejady
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, Jul 13: The bandh called by the supporters of MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty on Friday July 13 to protest against the BJP for denying him cabinet berth, garnered massive support.
The protestors went on dharna at Shastry Circle here to vent their anguish over the issue by hurling slogans against the new state government. Traffic was hindered for nearly half an hour.
Kundapur block BJP president Kishore Kumar, organizing secretary Rajesh Kaveri, VHP Udupi district president Katkere Premanand Shetty, council members, taluk panchayat members, zilla panchayat members, Bajrang Dal activists, leaders of fishing communities, and the general public participated in the protest.
Shopkeepers voluntarily shut their shops. Bus services were badly affected, causing inconvenience the public. Schools and colleges also remained closed.
Police resorted to mild lathi charge when the protesters turned violent.
Meanwhile, Kundapur DySP Shekar Agady contacted MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty over the phone, and sought his help in urging the protesters to be peaceful. MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty instructed the organizing chief not to resort to violence and observe the protest peacefully and not bring disgrace to the taluk.
The protesters burned effigies of Sangh Parivar leaders to express their anguish.
Similar protests were witnessed in Byndoor, Shiroor, Uppunda, Neralakatte, Gulvady, Vandse, Kandloor, Ampar, and other places across the taluk.
Earlier Report
Kundapur: Normal Life Hit as Taluk Shuts Down in Support of Halady
In the wake of the bandh called by the supporters of MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty who was denied ministerial berth in Shettar's cabinet, Kundapur came to a standstill on Friday July 13 with the entire taluk supporting the call.
Buses and autos were off the roads and people chose to remain indoors.
Shops too kept their shutters down, and since Kundapur is the main junction for service buses, the transport system seemed to be paralysed.
Only a handful of private buses were seen plying. The bandh is total up till Santhekatte. There were protests held in Udupi too, however, the situation was slightly better.
On Thursday July 12, Halady and his supporters, and even the MLAs hailiing from the coast were dejected and angered when he was denied ministerial berth after being promised one. The coastal MLAs were neglected, with only one, Srinivas Poojary making it to the list. All the MLAs from the region, especially Raghupati Bhat had threatened to resign.