Bengaluru/ Mysuru: The Bengaluru bandh planned by Kannada outfits tomorrow (Feb.4) to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city for a mega public meeting has been called off after Karnataka High Court ordered a stay, terming it unconstitutional. Modi is scheduled to address a massive public gathering at Palace Grounds tomorrow to mark the culmination of BJP’s Parivartana Rally.

The bandh had been called by the same Kannada outfits that staged protests during Amit Shah’s visit last week over the Centre’s alleged inaction in the Mahadayi river dispute between Karnataka and Goa. The protesters will now observe a “black day.”

Speaking to SOM this morning, veteran Kannada leader and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj, who was leading the bandh call, said that the bandh has been called off. “We bow to the order of the HC and the next date of the bandh will be announced after consulting with Kannada organisations,” he said.

The decision of calling off the bandh came hours after the HC restrained them from carrying out their plans and directed the State Govt. and law enforcement agencies to take all steps necessary to ensure neither commerce nor industry or the life of the common man was affected because of the bandh call.

A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice H.G. Ramesh and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar passed the interim order after hearing a PIL petition, filed by Shraddha Parents’ Association, Bengaluru.

Making clear that no organisation or individual has right to give a call for bandh as per the Apex Court’s direction, the Court directed the State Government to adhere to the Supreme Court’s guidelines.