• Source:JND
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Karnataka Bandh: Pro-Kannada organizations, led by the Kannada Vatal Party, called for a 12-hour-long Karnataka Bandh on March 22 (Saturday). The protests, against recent incidents in Belagavi, including an attack on a KSRTC bus conductor and vandalism of a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus in Maharashtra, may cause disruptions in several services.

Bengaluru schools closed today?

Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesha G said no holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the city. However, some schools are told to take calls if transport services get impacted in their areas. Some private schools have declared a holiday in affected areas. However, students and parents are advised to contact the respective school administration for details as no official confirmation was made.

The Karnataka Private Schools Union has extended moral support. Still, other unions didn't give their support to the bandh and said examinations are underway in many districts, including Bengaluru, and no holidays have been declared. Similarly, private colleges will remain open.

"The bandh does not have the support of our organization. The organization will not participate in the bandh in any form," Karnataka Rakshana Vedike State President TA Narayana Gowda said in a statement.

No official holiday in Karnataka

The protests received support from all the quarters yet no offical holiday was declared for schools, colleges or other institutes.

Karnataka SSLC exam 2025 affected due to bandh?

According to the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB), there is no SSLC exam scheduled for March 22. As there is no exam today, the bandh will not have any impact on the SSLC students.

Why is Karnataka Bandh today?

The language issue snowballed after Shiv Sena (UBT) workers staged a protest and blackened the buses with Karnataka number plates in the Swargate area of Pune city in February days after a Marathi-speaking bus driver was assaulted in Belagavi, for allegedly not speaking in Kannada.

The bandh has been called as Kannada organisations demand strict action against those responsible for violence against Kannadigas and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Has the government supported bandh?

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the state government would not encourage a bandh. "It is not needed at this time. They should have spoken to the government about it. It will affect students. We have also planned to launch a month-long water conservation campaign along with the Cauvery aarti on March 22, which is World Water Day,"  he added.