Karnataka Bandh: Schools, colleges to remain shut in Bengaluru today
The statewide bandh in Karnataka is scheduled to last for 12 hours, running from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. over the Cauvery river water issue.
Karnataka: Just two days after Bengaluru experienced a partial shutdown in protest of the Cauvery river water dispute with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka was called for state bandh on Friday. The statewide bandh is called by the ‘Kannada Okkuta’, a blanket organisation of pro-Kannada groups. The strike is scheduled to last for 12 hours, running from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In response to the bandh announcement, KA Dayananda, Bengaluru City District Deputy Commissioner, declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in Bengaluru city to ensure the safety and convenience of students.
The cause of these protests in Karnataka stems from the release of Cauvery river water to Tami Nadu. This decision follows the Supreme Court’s choice not to intervene in the decisions made by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and its subsidiary body, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
The CWRC recently issued an order instructing Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water from Biligundha, a decrease from the previous release of 5,000 cusecs. This move sparked significant unrest in the state.
MPs from Karnataka have come under criticism for not addressing this issue effectively. As a result, protesters are demanding that the MPs take a more proactive stance or consider resigning from their positions.
In a show of solidarity with the bandh, schools and colleges have declared holidays and extended their “moral support” to those protesting against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Various groups, including private cab services and auto-rickshaw unions, are lending their support to the bandh. They plan to organise rallies and demonstrations to express their concerns.
Furthermore, shopping malls and movie theatres across the state have committed to closing their establishments during the bandh as a sign of their support for the cause.
While many businesses in the northern part of Karnataka, such as Ballari, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Hubballi-Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Koppal, and Davangere, have extended their “moral support” to the bandh, they have clarified that they will not be shutting down their operations.
Ms Kalinga