Forum withdraws call for February 7 bandh in Mandya

MANDYA: The forum of likeminded people, which had called for a bandh in Mandya on February 7, has now called it off. The bandh on Wednesday was called to protest against the bandh call given by the Bajrang Dal on February 9 to protest against the removal of the Hanuman flag at Keragodu village in the district.

Pro-Dalit organisations, progressive individuals and CITU had extended their support to the bandh call given by the likeminded people’s forum. However, the district administration has appealed to various groups not to go ahead with the bandh call.

A padayatra was taken out recently from Keragodu to Mandya.

Mandya Deputy Commissioner Dr Kumar and SP N Yatish held an emergency meeting and appealed that with two back to back bandhs, school and college students, businesses and citizens would be affected. Heeding to the appeal, the forum has decided to withdraw the Mandya bandh call.

However, the forum insisted that no bandh call should be given on February 9 too and if the Bajrang Dal goes ahead with it, they too would call for a bandh to protest against it.