Chikkodi bandh over Katti’s remark evokes mixed response

Belagavi: After Sankeshwar and Sadalaga, thousands of dalits under the aegis of various Dalit organizations, observed bandh in Chikkodi town on Monday, condemning the offensive word used by Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti.
A huge protest rally was taken out from Bhim Nagar to Basaveshwar Circle, where the protesters burnt an effigy of Katti. They did rasta roko for two hours and demanded that Katti be stripped of his membership in the legislative assembly.

Due to the bandh call, educational institutions had declared a holiday. However, commercial establishments remain opened and public and private transport operated as usual.

Katti courted controversy when a recent interaction with reporters he addressed Dalits as 'holeyaru', an offensive word the use of which is prohibited under The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The audio of the statement went viral on the social media.