The Bengaluru bandh called by various organisations over the Cauvery river water dispute evoked partial response on Tuesday, as most of the public services functioned normally but fewer people than usual ventured out. ‘Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti’, an umbrella outfit of farmers’ associations and other organisations led by Kuruburu Shanthakumar, had given the call for Tuesday’s dawn to dusk (6am to 6pm) shutdown.
Earlier in the day, Shanthakumar and other leaders of the Samiti were detained by the police at the Mysuru Bank circle, as they were trying to lead a protest march towards Town Hall. Several activists of pro-Kannada organisations were also whisked away by the police at Town Hall, as they gathered there to stage a protest. Farmers’ leaders and pro-Kannada activists hit out at the government for allegedly using police force to curtail the protests and the bandh.
Farmers and pro-Kannada organisations with their leaders, including Shanthakumar and others, later staged protests at Freedom Park, which is the only designated place for such demonstrations. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy met protesters at Freedom Park and received a memorandum from them.
“I have received the memorandum on behalf of the government. I will bring them to the notice of the chief minister,” he said. The five-point memorandum includes demands that water is not released from Cauvery to Tamil Nadu, an election commission-like body be put together to assess things during distress years, Mekedatu project be implemented, and cases against farmers and pro-Kannada activists be withdrawn, he said.
The government is on the side of the farmers and is committed to protecting the interests of the state and its people, Reddy added. Shanthakumar claimed that the bandh has been successful. The samiti has set a three-day deadline for the government to announce its decision, failing which the outfit will intensify their protest.
City police have taken all adequate security measures to respond to any violent situations that may happen during the protests. About 100 platoons have been deployed. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that prohibitory orders under section 144 will be in place across the city from midnight on Monday to midnight on Tuesday. There were reports of some miscreants allegedly trying to shut hotels that were open in Jayanagara area and trying to damage property. Police have registered a case and efforts are on to nab the culprits. “Despite the ‘Kannada Okkuta,’ an umbrella organization for pro-Kannada groups led by activist Vatal Nagaraj, not supporting the bandh, Nagaraj and other leaders attempted to lay siege to Raj Bhavan. However, they were detained by the police. Schools and colleges in the city remained closed, and while cab services, autos, and restaurants operated, they reported limited patronage. Public transport services like BMTC buses and the Metro saw reduced passenger numbers. Private companies, including those in the IT sector, urged employees to work from home. Malls, cinema theaters, and many shops stayed closed. The opposition BJP and JD(S) supported the bandh, which also had an impact in several other places.”
CWRC directs Karnataka: Release water to TN
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on Tuesday directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu from 28 Sep to 15 Oct. Earlier, Karnataka, through its opening remarks, made a submission before CWRC that it was in a position to release henceforth.
