BENGALURU: The Federation of Kannada Organizations announced a 'bandh' on December 31 to demand the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) be banned in Karnataka.

Vatal Nagaraj, a Kannada activist, told the media that MES is causing unrest in the state by inflaming tensions between Kannadigas and Marathi people. On December 31, a bandh will be observed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nagaraj added.  "We are giving the Karnataka government until December 29 at midnight to ban MES. If they do not ban it, a bandh will be declared across the state. It is a matter of self-respect. This bandh should not be opposed by anyone "He stated.

The government should also urge the Central government to impose President's rule in Maharashtra, he said, because Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has failed to rein in elements who target Kannada-speaking people.

Several Kannada organisations have expressed their solidarity with the bandh. However, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike President Narayana Gowda stated that his organisation does not support the bandh call.  "People have only recently begun to recover from Covid-19 infection. Bandh is not a panacea for all ills. We will protest MES in a different manner "He continued.

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