Even as the state witnesses much political drama, those on Bangalore’s streets swore at protestors who disrupted traffic.
Ramakanth N, who regularly plies on Hosur Road, was caught in one of the KPCC’s rasta roko protests. He fumed, “I’m fed up. We see enough of this political drama on television, and now it’s right here in front of us, on the streets.
Our lives will not be affected in the least, even if there is a change at the helm,” said Ramakanth, betraying the cynicism that has become quite the norm in the city.
Caught in traffic on Mysore Road, Sumathi Rajan, a bank employee said, “Traffic jams extend for hours together, as infrastructure works are being taken up at Nayandahalli junction. We lose hours each day. And today, the protests are an additional headache. Why can’t people who need to protest take up space in Freedom Park, without throwing traffic out of gear?”
On Kolar Road, some Congress leaders got a feel of the police’s lathi. Even KPCC vice-president A Krishnappa got a swipe of the police cane, as protesters gheraoed the local police station. Police officers intervened to maintain calm.
Mysore Road, Tumkur Road, Kolar Road and Hosur Road saw disrupted traffic.
Leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah and the KPCC president G Parameshwar staged protests near Rajarajeshwarinagar gate, along Tumkur Road. Effigies of the chief minister and other BJP leaders were burnt along Kolar highway. In other parts of the state too, both Congress and JD(S) workers took out protests against the BJP government.
In Raichur, JD(S) party workers entertained a gathering as they dramatised a spoof on the functioning of chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and his council of ministers.
