Bengaluru Bandh On Sep 26: Will Schools, IT Companies Be Shut Over Cauvery Issue?

In a significant development, a bandh has been announced for Bengaluru city on Tuesday, September 26, to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The decision was made following a meeting held at Freedom Park in the city, which included the participation of over 15 organizations, including the Aam Aadmi Party, several Resident Welfare Associations, and pro-Kannada groups.

The announcement of the bandh was made by prominent farmer leader, Kuruburu Shanthakumar, who sought the support of various organisations in the cause. Shanthakumar has not only appealed to educational institutions, such as schools and colleges, but also to the Film Chamber and IT companies, requesting them to declare a holiday in solidarity with the protest. Furthermore, he called upon the government to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss and address the pressing Cauvery issue.

Meanwhile, a section of society had already demonstrated their discontent by staging protests in Bengaluru on Saturday over the Cauvery issue. These demonstrations sought to halt traffic at several locations within the city.

The Karnataka government, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, opted to adhere to the Supreme Court's directive on Friday, deciding to accept the order to release water to Tamil Nadu. The apex court had, on September 21, declined to intervene in the decision of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, which had ordered the release of 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

Simultaneously, various organizations in Mandya observed a bandh today as a sign of their condemnation of the state government's choice to release water to Tamil Nadu. The Cauvery issue remains a complex and deeply emotional matter, sparking protests, meetings, and calls for political action.