In view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bengaluru on June 20, and his participation in several events, higher education institutions and schools located in the vicinity of his travel route have been ordered shut due to “security reasons”. 

 

In Karnataka, controversies have rocked school and college campuses in the recent past, the Hijab and textbook revision being among them. 

 

Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Higher Education, said, a government order to this effect has been issued on Saturday. Later, a circular was issued by the department of public instruction, asking all government, aided and unaided schools from Kengeri Upanagara to Kommaghatta to remain shut. 

 

The circular also enlists 22 schools that have been ordered to be closed for a day in view of the same. These schools have been asked to work on any holiday to compensate for the hours missed. 

 

Among the colleges, Dr Ashwath Narayan said this will be applicable to higher educational institutions in the vicinity of IISc, Goraguntepalya, CMTI, Outer Ring Road, Dr Rajkumar Memorial flyover, Laggere bridge, Nayandahalli, Mysuru Road R.V.college, Nagarabavi, Sumanahalli flyover, MEI junction, Govardhan Talkies, Yashawantapura, and Jakkuru Aerodrome route, he has stated.

 

In Karnataka where elections are scheduled in 2023, the capital city Bengaluru’s roads have remained choked over the last couple of weeks owing to various political reasons, throwing traffic out of gear. 

 

A protest organised by the Congress party protesting the questioning of Rahul Gandhi by investigation agencies blocked traffic around central Bengaluru, Shantinagar and surrounding areas. Days later, the chief minister did rounds in the same area to inspect the status of some water works undertaken here. 

 

This was followed by a visit by President Ram Nath Kovind days later, resulting in traffic restrictions and jams. Also in Bengaluru, protests have erupted over the last few days owing to the textbooks revision controversy and this has spread largely to campuses, with student bodies such as AIDSO joining hands with protesters.