Hundreds take out mammoth rally

 The bandh call given by Sri Chamarajeshwara Bhakta Mandali and several other organisations today condemning the incident of setting the ‘Dodda Ratha’ (car) of the famous Chamarajeshwara Temple on fire by a group of unidentified persons late on Saturday night, evoked good response with shops, commercial establishments, petrol bunks and other business offices  remaining closed.

Although the District Administration had declared that there would be no holiday for educational institutions, schools and colleges in the town remained closed for the day. Although some educational institutions opened in the morning, they were forced to shut as volunteers went around the town garnering support for the bandh.

Although public offices, banks and other Government establishments functioned as usual, there was thin attendance.

However, KSRTC and private buses plied as usual, in spite of few passengers. A huge rally was taken out in the main thoroughfares of the town as a mark of protest against the incident. The district head quarters wore a deserted look.

DC B. Ramu, who visited Chamarajeshwara Temple, inspected the Ratha which was set on fire.

Meanwhile, CM Siddharamaiah, condemning the incident, has tweeted that he has directed the authorities to bring the culprits to book and to ensure that such incidents do not occur again.