IT firms in Bengaluru to remain shut today

The proposed State-wide bandh tomorrow (January 25) called by Kannada organisations to press for a speedy resolution to the Mahadayi river water dispute between Karnataka and Goa is expected to bring the IT city Bengaluru to a halt.

In view of the bandh call, several IT companies, including Infosys, automobile companies, e-commerce ventures and other businesses have asked their employees to work from home and not to venture out during the day.

On the bandh day, BJP President Amit Shah is expected to address a public meeting in Mysuru.

IT shutdown

Infosys Development Centre (DC) and offices in Bengaluru will remain closed. “Our teams at the Bengaluru DC are closely monitoring the situation and are in constant touch with the local authoritie,s” an Infosys spokesperson said.

While Bosch and Toyoto Kirloskar factories will work as usual, Suprajeet and Huawei said they would remain shut for employee safety. Amazon, SAP Labs, Cisco and many other firms that BusinessLine spoke to said they have asked their employees to work from home tomorrow.

Anticipating delivery issues on Thursday, e-tailers like BigBasket worked until midnight on Wednesday to deliver orders; Licious.com sent out messages to customers to stock up on their meat cravings on Wednesday itself and retailers like Star Bazaar urged customers to stock up on groceries and essentials on Wednesday. Transport services such as, the metro rail service will run on schedule and will shut down its services only if it receives an advisory from the police to do so. BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation officials said they would wait for a government directive before taking any decision on halting services.

The Kannada organisations have also called for a second bandh in Bengaluru on February 4 to coincide with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting the city to address a rally to mark the conclusion of the BJP’s Parivarthana Yatra.

Schools closed Private schools will remain closed tomorrow. The association managements of primary and secondary schools in Karnataka have sent out an advisory that schools should remain closed in view of the safety and security of the students.

Bangalore University has rescheduled some of their undergraduate and postgraduate examinations scheduled on 25 January to other dates. Majority of these examinations are part of distance education programmes.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has also announced its support for the bandh on both the days. Most of the multiplexes and single theatres are screening movies only after 6 pm.

Farmers’ protest Late last month, farmer groups in North Karnataka had protested over the Mahadayi issue following a call by farmer groups who claim that the Centre is reluctant to resolve the decades old water sharing dispute between the two states.

In an appeal to the public to maintain peace and calm on Thursday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “No one should resort to or encourage unlawful activities during the bandh. Everyone should work towards peace. The government will take tough action against those who resort to violence.”

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