Karnataka Bandh: Who Is Supporting Protest Against Cauvery Water Release To Tamil Nadu?

All farmers' groups in Karnataka have extended their support to Karnataka Bandh on September 29 i.e Friday called by pro-Kannada organisations to protest against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) President Badagalapura Nagendra said on Wednesday that all farmers' organisations in the state have unanimously decided to support the bandh.

In a press conference, Vatal Nagaraj, a prominent Pro-Kannada activist, former MLA, and the leader of Kannada Chauvali, issued a stern warning to the government, emphasizing the gravity of the upcoming protest. He declared, "Friday's statewide bandh in Karnataka will be a significantly serious demonstration." In addition to this, pro-Kannada groups have openly challenged the State Government, anticipating a substantial turnout in support of the bandh.

Karnataka Bandh: What Restrictions Will Be Imposed?

Concerning the restrictions to be imposed during the Karnataka Bandh, Bangalore University has officially postponed its Annual Convocation scheduled for Friday, September 29, without announcing a new date for the event. While educational institutions had already closed during the Bengaluru Bandh on September 26, there is no official notice regarding the status of Friday's activities. It is expected that national highways, airports, malls, shops, restaurants, hotels, as well as schools and colleges will remain closed, causing substantial disruptions to public services.

The Cauvery water dispute is a long-standing issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The two states have been locked in a legal battle over the sharing of water from the Cauvery River for decades.

The Cauvery Regulatory Committee (CWRC) had ordered Karnataka to ensure the release of 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 till October 15, 2023. The amount of water to be released was earlier 5000 cusecs.