Bengaluru Bandh Begins Over Cauvery Row: BMTC Buses Operational, Autos On Strike (image- www.twitter/ani_digital)
Farmers group and pro-Kannada organisations have called for a Bengaluru Bandh on Tuesday. The Karnataka state will witness a city-wide bandh in protest of the release of Cauvery water to neighbouring state Tamil Nadu. More than 175 organisations across the state have declared support to the bandh. While Karnataka Chief minister said on Monday that his government will not ‘curtail’ the Bengaluru Bandh, reports mint.
It is announced that all routes of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will remain operational as usual. Police personnel are deployed in various places to maintain law and order. All the shops are closed except those providing essential services.
Farmers, Kannada organisations and opposition parties called for Bandh in protest against the state”s decision to release 5000 cusecs of water to its neighbouring state, Tamil Nadu for 15 days, says ANI. This decision was not warmly welcomed by the farmers as they were in the midst of drought-like situation.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner, B Dayananda, said that section 144 will be imposed in the city, under which gathering of more than five people will not be permitted. But protests have been planned to take place at Freedom Park, Raj Bhavan and Town Hall though the police have given permission only in Freedom Park.
Auto drivers, hotel association also extended their support in the protest. Airlines Vistara in Tuesday announced travel update asking the people to pre-plan their rides to airport as the private transport may get disrupted.
Earlier this week, Siddaramaiah urged the Prime Minister to intervene and solve the dispute between two states. “The prime minister has the authority to summon the two states and hear their arguments. Given this context, we have appealed for the Prime Minister’s intervention,” he said.
“Let’s set aside party politics and stand united in protecting our state, language, water, land, and culture. The situation has become critical, and there is no distress formula in place,” he added.
On Thursday, Supreme court declined to take action regarding the issue. While Former Prime Minister H D Gowda suggested that the ongoing issue cannot be resolved legally and instead both the parties should engage in direct negotiations and discussion and to come up with solution.
