In response to the call for a ‘Karnataka Bandh’ by pro-Kannada and farmers’ organizations, the Bengaluru administration has decided to declare a day off for all educational institutions within the city on Friday. This decision is made in protest against the release of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu, as reported by ANI. KA Dayananda, Bengaluru City District Deputy Commissioner, stated, “As Karnataka bandh has been declared by various organizations, a holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in Bengaluru city in the interest of students.”
Additionally, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) have been imposed in the Mandya district, where schools and colleges will remain closed tomorrow, as mentioned by District Collector Kumar. The protests have erupted in Karnataka due to the release of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu, following the Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene in the rulings of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and its auxiliary body, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
The CWRC recently issued an order directing Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water from Biligundlu, effective from September 28 to October 15, 2023, marking a reduction from the previous release of 5,000 cusecs. During a press conference in Bengaluru where actor Siddharth was promoting his upcoming film ‘Chikku,’ members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Swabhimani Sene interrupted the event and demanded that he vacate the venue. They expressed their displeasure, asserting that it was an inappropriate moment for Siddharth to conduct such promotional activities, given the ongoing demand by Tamil Nadu for Cauvery River water from Karnataka.
Massive protests have erupted in Karnataka following the directive from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 3000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. Protestors are vociferously asserting their claim that the Cauvery River belongs to them. Earlier, in Bengaluru, activists from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) staged a large-scale protest against the state MPs and the Siddaramaiah Government over the Cauvery River water issue. The protestors, including members of the KRV, shouted slogans like “Cauvery Is Ours,” expressing their opposition to the release of river water to Tamil Nadu.
In Bengaluru, activists from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) staged a significant protest against state MPs and the Siddaramaiah Government over the Cauvery River water issue. During the protest, KRV activists chanted slogans asserting ownership of the Cauvery River and expressed their opposition to the release of river water to Tamil Nadu. Ashwini Gowda, the President of KRV Women’s Wing, emphasized the importance of unity among Kannadigas during this time. She called on the state-elected MPs to take a stand on the matter and represent the people of Karnataka or resign from their positions, according to a report by ANI.