Bengaluru Bandh Today: Section 144 Imposed, No Nod for Protest | 10 Points

A day before the first bandh in Karnataka this week over the Cauvery water sharing issue, the Bengaluru police have denied permission for any bandh, protest, or demonstration. They have also imposed Section 144 across the city, which prohibits gatherings of more than five people.

The 12-hour bandh scheduled for September 26, from 6 am to 6 pm, has been called for by a farmers' organization, with support from opposition parties. Another statewide bandh related to the same issue is planned for September 29.

Here are the updates on two bandhs in Karnataka:

1. The Bengaluru bandh on September 26 is organised by 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti,' a coalition of farmers' associations and various organizations led by farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar. The statewide bandh on September 29 is called by 'Kannada Okkuta,' led by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj.
2. Kannada Okkuta is not endorsing the Bengaluru bandh on Tuesday. They proposed postponing the Bengaluru bandh to Friday and conducting it statewide, but the organizers of the Tuesday bandh proceeded, claiming they had sufficient support.
3. Both bandhs protest the same issue - the Karnataka government's decision to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The confusion surrounding the Bengaluru bandh pertains to which services will be open or closed on Tuesday, given the division over who supports the bandh.
4. Schools and colleges will remain closed, and most offices have instructed their employees to work from home. Walmart and Google have asked their employees not to come to the office on Tuesday.
5. The Hotel Owners' Association has withdrawn support for the Bengaluru bandh, so hotels and restaurants will remain open.
6. Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus services will not be affected. Metro services too will be available as usual.
7. Auto and taxi unions in Bengaluru are fully supporting the bandh, which may inconvenience the public. State buses will not be operational in Bengaluru. However, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation services and metro services will continue unaffected.
8. The BJP is endorsing the Bengaluru bandh on Tuesday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that while protests will not be curtailed, they should be peaceful.
9. The Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association, previously in support of the bandh on Tuesday, withdrew their support and will participate in the statewide bandh on Friday.
10. Apart from IndiGo, airlines such as Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Vistara have also put out advisories in view of the bandh.

Regarding the Cauvery water issue, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been embroiled in a long-standing water dispute. The recent conflict stems from the Supreme Court's rejection of Karnataka's plea against the Cauvery Water Management Authority's order, which directed Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days starting from September 13. Karnataka cited its own needs for drinking water and irrigation as the reason for being unable to comply with the order.