Karnataka Bandh: 44 Flights Cancelled, Pro-Kannada Activists Arrested

Airline companies have cancelled 44 flights at Bengaluru International Airport on account of the statewide bandh in Karnataka. The bandh is being organised as a protest against the release of Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. According to the airport authorities, flights were cancelled due to operational reasons.

However, reports said that airline companies cancelled the flights due to cancellations of tickets in view of the Karnataka bandh. There were incidents of picketing at the airport as many pro-Kannada activists had gathered in the front yard and many had forcefully tried to enter the airport shouting slogans. They were arrested by the police.

Normal life was affected, especially in the southern part of the state, with pro-Kannada and farmers” organizations calling for “Karnataka Bandh”.

Kannada Okkuta includes factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers” bodies that have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown.On Thursday, organizers of the bandh told news agency PTI that 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.

They said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut down highways, toll gates, rail services, and airports. The opposition BJP and JD(S) have extended their support to the bandh, as well as hotels, autorickshaws and hail riders associations in Karnataka.

The Karnataka bandh has caused significant disruptions to travel and daily life in the state.