Karnataka Bandh On September 29: What The Bengaluru Police Commissioner Has To Say

Karnataka Bandh on September 29: A statewide shutdown or 'Karnataka bandh' has been called by the 'Kannada Okkuta,' an umbrella organization representing various Kannada groups. This move is spearheaded by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj, and it's in response to the Cauvery water release issue. The bandh is scheduled to last for 12 hours, running from 6 am to 6 pm on the specified day.

• In a press conference on Thursday, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that the section 144 enforced from tonight i.e September 28, which will be in effect from midnight on Thursday to midnight on Friday.
• Dayananda further stated that no organisation had sought permission for the bandh, and he issued a strong warning against anyone attempting to take the law into their own hands during this period.
• Under this prohibitory order, which spans from midnight on September 28 to midnight on September 29, all forms of public protest within the city are prohibited. The police will not tolerate any protests, and those participating may face detainment. Notably, protests are only permitted in Freedom Park.
• The Commissioner has confirmed that a sufficient number of KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) and BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses will be available during the bandh. This indicates that public transportation services in the region will continue to operate, ensuring that people can commute as usual during the bandh period.
• Any organisation that wants to lend their support to the bandh can do so on their own, but they must not force anyone else to participate. If any damage to property occurs during the bandh, the respective protesting organisation will be held accountable for the costs.

What will be affected?

Organisers have stated their intent to disrupt highways, toll booths, rail services, and even airports. However, BMTC and KSRTC buses are expected to operate as usual on Friday, as employees have been instructed to report to work.

In response to the bandh, schools and colleges have chosen to close their premises for the entire day on Friday. This decision has been made in light of the statewide bandh, which seeks to protest the transfer of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. On September 29, 2023, ride-sharing services like Ola and Uber will be suspended in solidarity with the bandh, potentially making commuting more challenging.

For the latest information on school closures, parents and students are advised to reach out to their respective school administrations, as schools and universities will make official announcements as necessary. Some private institutions may offer online classes during this period. While schools have the autonomy to decide their course of action, it's worth noting that the general secretary of KAMS expressed a differing opinion, suggesting that full-day classes could be conducted on the following Saturday and Sunday instead.

Meanwhile, the Annual Convocation of Bangalore University, originally scheduled for September 26, has been postponed due to the Karnataka Bandh called by Pro-Kannada organizations in protest of the Cauvery Water Dispute.