Karnataka bandh: Pro-Kannada groups in Karnataka have announced a 12-hour statewide shutdown on March 22 to protest an alleged assault on a KSRTC bus conductor in Belagavi. The shutdown may have an impact on schools, colleges, banks, and transport availability, among other public services.
Are banks closed on March 22?
There is no official confirmation on whether the banks will be opened or closed on March 22. Hence, banks will be open according to its usual timings.
When are banks closed?
The Reserve Bank of India designates bank holidays on account of any national or regional festivals. Apart from festivals, banks are typically open on the first and third Saturdays of each month and remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays.
Bank holidays in March
In March, banks will remain closed for up to eight days in March, except on the weekends. Banks will remain closed on March 7, 13, 14, 15, 22, 27, 28 and 31, according to the bank holiday calendar RBI. This month, banks will be closed for eight days due to festivals such as Chapchar Kut, Holika Dahan/ Attukal Pongala, Holi, Yaosang, Bihar Diwas, Shab-I-Qadr, Jumat-ul-Vida and Ramzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitr).
Karnataka bandh timings
There will be a 12-hour statewide shutdown from 6 am to 6 pm on Saturday, March 22.
Is Bengaluru closed on 22nd March?
Some of the public services in Bengaluru will be closed for 12 hours on Saturday, March 22 due to Karnataka bandh.
What is the reason for Karnataka bandh?
The announcement of the Karnataka bandh comes after a KSRTC bus conductor was allegedly attacked by pro-Marathi groups in Belagavi in February over not speaking in Marathi, adding to the linguistic tensions in the region.
Maharashtra-Karnataka language issue
Linguistic tensions in Karnataka over Marathi stem from the long-standing border dispute with Maharashtra, especially in the northern Belagavi region with a sizable Marathi-speaking population.
After Maharashtra’s creation on May 1, 1960, the state staked claim over 865 villages, including Belgaon (now Belgavi), Karwar, and Nippani. Maharashtra wants these villages under its jurisdiction, while Karnataka has refused to give away this territory.
