Karnataka Bandh: A pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations have called for a 'Karnataka Bandh' on Friday (September 29) to protest the release of Cauvery river water to neighboring Tamil Nadu. ‘Kannada Okkuta’, an umbrella organisation for Kannada outfits including factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers’ bodies have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown.
The bandh will be led by Kannada Okkuta leader Vattal Nagaraj from 6 am to 6 pm. As part of the bandh, there will be a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom park in the city, in which people from all walks of life are likely to participate. The organisers have said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut down highways, toll gates, rail services, and also airports.
The opposition BJP and JD(S) have expressed their support for the bandh, and various associations, including those representing hotels, autorickshaws, and hail riders, are also participating in the strike.
Section 144 imposed
However, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda did not give permission to any kind of bandh in the city and section 144 is likely to be imposed. He said that Freedom Park is the sanctioned location for protests and rallies in the city. Bengaluru Commissioner also warned that if any damage to the property occurs, the respective protesting organization will be held accountable for the costs.
“Tomorrow, on 29th September 2023, several organizations in Karnataka are uniting for a state-wide bandh to protest against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The Bengaluru Commissioner of Police emphasises on Supreme Court's ruling that all forms of bandh are forbidden. The sole sanctioned location for protests and rallies is Freedom Park. However, any organisation can lend their support on their own and not by force. If any damage to the property occurs, the respective protesting organization will be held accountable for the costs.”
The district administration of Karnataka's Mandya has also imposed Section 144 in Mandya district citing a bandh called by pro-Kannada organizations, farmer unions, and several other organizations on Friday.
Announcing the decision, Mandya DC Dr. Kumar said, as quoted by news agency ANI, “In view of the bandh called by pro-Kannada organizations, farmer unions, and several other organizations tomorrow regarding Cauvery water issue, Section 144 has been imposed in Mandya district and schools and colleges will remain closed tomorrow."
What will remain open?
- All public transport including buses and metro services will function as usual without any interruptions. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), and other transport corporations have not announced support for the bandh.
- During the Karnataka bandh, all public and private banks are expected to operate as usual, and their working hours and operations will not be affected.
- All emergency services, including ambulances, pharmaceutical vehicles, and essential goods carriers, will continue to operate. Hospitals and medical stores will also remain open and function as usual.
- Government offices in Karnataka will operate as usual during the bandh, without any disruptions or changes in their regular functioning.
What will remain closed?
- All schools, colleges and other educational institutions will remain closed today in view of the bandh call while employees working in the private and corporate sectors are expected to work from home.
- Private cab services and auto rickshaws "Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union and Ola Uber Drivers and Owners’ Association (OUDOA) are supporting the bandh. "We will take out a rally from Nayandahalli to the Freedom Park tomorrow," its president Tanveer Pasha told news agency PTI.
- Shopping malls and movie theaters in Karnataka are supporting the bandh, and they will remain closed during the strike. Street vendors also won't be allowed to sell food on roads.
Cauvery water dispute
The Cauvery water crisis has once again surfaced in Karnataka with the water tribunals ordering the state to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till October 16. The government is facing the challenge of handling a series of bandhs and protests across the state.
With the release of water to Tamil Nadu, it is almost certain that the standing crops which require 79 TMC of water will not get it. The fulfillment of the drinking water needs of Bengaluru city throughout the summer is also going to be another challenge. The requirement of the state for drinking water up to June 2024 is about 33 TMC.
Tamil Nadu had demanded for the release of 12,500 cusecs of water. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the rains received in August and September were the lowest in 125 years.
(With agencies input)
