A state bandh has been declared in Karnataka by pro-Kannada organizations to protest the delivery of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
A nationwide bandh has been declared in Karnataka by pro-Kannada organizations to protest the delivery of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The band started at 6 a.m., and pro-Kannada activities organized protests and sloganeering in several areas. More than 50 persons from various organizations have been detained in various sections of the state.
The dawn-to-dusk demonstration disrupted normal life in the state, as transit, hotels, and other facilities remained closed.
Protest protests have been planned around the state, notably in Bengaluru, the state capital. All educational institutions in Bengaluru and Mandya districts remain closed, and the city has been subjected to Section 144 restrictions.
A considerable number of police officers have been deployed throughout the state.
In the state, all shops, malls, and other business institutions are closed. Hotels, restaurants, and movie theatres are all closed, as are auto and taxi services.
Pro-Kannada organizations also blocked highways and toll gates.
Protesters gathered at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport and chanted slogans. The cops have detailed them.
Protests are expected to be fierce in the state’s south today.
The district administrations of Bengaluru and Mandya have declared a holiday for all schools and colleges under their authority.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru Commissioner of Police B Dayananda declared that the bandh would not be permitted in the city and implemented Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Security has also been provided in Mysuru, Kodagu, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, and Ramanagara, among other places.
The Bengaluru Metro rail, on the other hand, is still operational. The State Transport Department has also directed the state transport enterprises to continue operating as usual.
Banks, hospitals, and pharmacies will remain open, as will government agencies.
Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella organization representing Kannada organizations including factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha), and numerous farmers’ bodies, has called for a state-wide shutdown. The opposition BJP and JD(S) have also thrown their weight behind the bandh.
In Bengaluru, a big rally is scheduled from Town Hall to Freedom Park. The protest march is expected to draw individuals from all walks of life and organizations, according to organizers.
The bandh is supported by the Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union and the Ola Uber Drivers and Owners’ Association (OUDOA). Among those who have expressed their support are the Bruhath Bangaluru Hotel Association and the Karnataka State Private Schools Association.
Due to the closure, districts in Karnataka that share borders with Tamil Nadu have been placed on high alert.
The Superintendent of Police in border districts like Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Erode, and Nilgiris were also asked to take cautious measures by the Tamil Nadu police head. Security presence at checkpoints has been boosted.
In light of the shutdown, the authorities have established a helpline. People experiencing problems are encouraged to call the helpline numbers 9498170430 and 9498215407.
Protests in Tamil Nadu grew after the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the decisions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and its supporting body, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which urged the state to do so.
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Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s directive to Karnataka to send water to Tamil Nadu at a rate of 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) until October 15 will be contested in the Supreme Court.
