High Court terms bandh illegal: February 4 bandh called off

Bengaluru: The February 4^th Bengaluru Bandh seeking a remedy for the Mahadayi water dispute was called off by the Karnataka High Court on Friday on grounds of being illegal and unconstitutional.

The high court has ordered the state government and law enforcement agencies ensure that commerce, industry, public transport and the common man are not affected on February 4.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar issued the directions while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Shraddha Parents Association seeking directions to hold back the bandh called by pro-Kannada outfit.

The high court referred to a ruling of the Supreme Court which had declared bandhs as illegal and unconstitutional as they violate the constitutional rights of citizens.

Vatal Nagaraj, president of Kannada Okkuta in response to the decision said that the court order will be accepted but the organization has decided to observe February 4^th as a black day. The Organization will hold a protest march from Freedom Park to Palace grounds demanding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to solve the Mahadayi issue.

He also accused BJP for backs tabbing Kannada activists by preventing the protests on the Mahadayi issue.