Bangalore: Violence broke out in several places across Karnataka on Saturday and prohibitory order under Sec 144 of the IPC was clamped over several areas in Bangalore for two days following a bandh called by the BJP against Governor H R Bhardwaj sanctioning permission to two lawyers to prosecute Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
In Bangalore, buses went off the road and shops and offices were shut for the day. Schools and colleges too declared a holiday. Roads wore a deserted look as BJP workers paralysed traffic at key areas. In Bangalore, BJP held a padayatra led by Law Minister Suresh Kumar who told newsmen that the Governor's action reeked of political conspiracy and vendetta.
Tyres and effigies of Bhardwaj were burnt at several places in Bangalore and across Karnataka. Early in the morning, BJP workers blocked the road leading to the Bangalore International Airport leading to a pile up of traffic. Passengers going to the airport were badly hit. Many could not make it to the airport as the state-run Volvo buses to the airport went off the roads and private taxi operators refused to ply their vehicle.
Vehicle movement on National Highways were badly affected. NH 4 at Hubli saw a major traffic snarl as BJP workers blocked traffic. In Davanagere, a bus was burnt and the driver Laxman was injured.
Section 144 was clamped over Seshadiripuram, Gaganhalli, Malleswaram and other key areas known to be BJP strongholds.
In Bellary, the home district of the Reddy brothers, the bandh was total as people stayed at home. Stones were pelted at private vehicles too and the police had to intervene.
In Belgaum, there was mild tension as some shops refused to down shutters. BJP workers stoned these shops leading to tension.
Gulbarga, Bidar, Mysore and Mangalore too saw huge traffic snarls and some violence.
The bandh was called by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party against the Governor move permitting prosecution of Yeddyurappa and Home Minister R Ashoka over alleged land scandals.
On the political front, Yeddyurappa said Bhardwaj had refused to share a copy of the sanction letter that allowed prosecution of the CM and Home Minister.
Meanwhile, Bhardwaj has briefed Union Home Minister P Chidambaram over the prosecution move and the situation in Karnataka.
In a related development, sources said Yeddyurappa is likely to file a petition before the High Court on January 24 challenging Bhardwaj's sanction to prosecute him under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.
"We are already working on a framework. We will go to court. The chief minister is likely to file a petition before the High Court on Monday", Minister for Law S Suresh Kumar said.
He said the Governor is yet to furnish a copy of his order giving sanction to prosecute Yeddyurappa, despite pleas.
"Let us see whether the Governor will give us a copy today", Kumar said.
Yesterday, Yeddyurappa had shot off a letter to Bhardwaj objecting to denial of the copy of the order.
Sources said when chief minister's Principal Secretary met the Governor, Bhardwaj told him that he would first give the order copy to complainants.
Bhardwaj had on Friday sanctioned prosecution of Yeddyurappa in alleged land scams. BJP had hit back at the Governor calling the decision constitutionally improper and politically motivated.
The Governor has been has been engaged in an open battle with the Chief Minister on charges of corruption against ministers, especially the Reddy brothers, in the BJP government in the state.
A Raj Bhavan communique said the sanction was accorded under Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. Both the provisions relate to Governor's powers to grant sanction against public servant.

Source: India Syndicate with inputs from agencies