Back
PremiumKarnataka Bandh News LIVE: Karnataka witnessed a state-wide bandh today, with various pro-Kannada organizations and farmers' outfits calling for a 12-hour strike to protest the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. The bandh, which was largely peaceful but had widespread impacts, brought the state to a temporary standstill.
The bandh was organized to voice opposition to the government's decision to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, citing the prevailing water crisis in Karnataka. The protesters argued that Karnataka's farmers were facing water scarcity, and the release of water to Tamil Nadu would exacerbate the problem.
Major cities and towns in Karnataka, including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, and Mangaluru, saw the shutdown of shops, commercial establishments, educational institutions, and public transportation. While buses remained off the roads, some private vehicles and taxis continued to operate, albeit cautiously.
Protesters took to the streets, blocking roads and highways in several areas, causing traffic disruptions. In certain places, groups of agitators staged demonstrations, holding placards and banners expressing their concerns about the Cauvery water release.
However, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar reassured the public that the government was actively safeguarding the state's interests and had taken steps to ensure that the bandh did not result in undue hardships. He mentioned that the bandh was peaceful, with many shops and businesses resuming their operations in various regions.
One of the key demands from the protesters and pro-Kannada organizations was to ask the Cauvery Management Authority (CWMA) to devise a new water-sharing formula with Tamil Nadu, especially during deficient rainfall years. DK Shivakumar, who also holds the irrigation portfolio, indicated that discussions were underway in this regard.
The bandh underscored the ongoing concerns over water resources and the long-standing Cauvery river dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It also highlighted the deep-rooted regional sentiments and the need for a comprehensive resolution that addresses the concerns of all stakeholders.
Check all the LIVE updates here.
The district administration of Karnataka's Mandya on 28 September imposed Section 144 in Mandya district citing a bandh called by pro-Kannada organizations, farmer unions, and several other organizations on Friday. Read the full story here.
The Karnataka bandh called by the 'Kannada Okkoota' to oppose release of water to Tamil Nadu received a good response in Bengaluru and other southern parts of the State on Friday, disrupting normal life.
Authorities have clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code in Bengaluru Urban, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, Ramanagara and Hassan districts, and declared a holiday for schools and colleges there. 'Kannada Okkoota' is an umbrella organsation of Kannada and farmers' outfits.
A Bengaluru bandh was observed over the same reason on Tuesday. (PTI)
BJP Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya on Thursday said he waited for 48 hours to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin in Chennai to apprise him about the looming drinking water crisis in Bengaluru but the meeting did not take place.
In the midst of the ongoing Cauvery water sharing issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Siroya said he went to Chennai on a goodwill mission with no politics. Though he could not meet Stalin, he said his meetings with other DMK leaders were ‘extremely positive’.
In a statement, Siroya said he wanted to apprise the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister about the looming drinking water crisis in Bengaluru and the drought situation in Karnataka, and urge him to consider the issue as a humanitarian crisis and not a regional conflict. (PTI)
The Karnataka government will approach the Supreme Court to challenge the direction of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release water to Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on September 27.
The Committee has directed the Karnataka government to release water at a rate of 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to the neighbouring state between September 28 and October 15. Read the full story here.
Farmers and trade unions in India's southern Karnataka state have called for a day-long strike on Friday to protest against sharing water from a river with neighbouring Tamil Nadu state, in a drawn-out conflict that has flared up again in recent days.
As reported by Reuters, protests began this week in Karnataka's capital Bengaluru against the allocation of water from the Cauvery river, with demonstrators opposing a court order to release 5,000 cusecs of river water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days this month. A cusec is one cubic foot or 28 cubic litres per second.
Fear of unrest had forced thousands of employees of multinationals such as Walmart and Alphabet's Google to work from home in the technology hub Bengaluru on Sept. 26, a situation expected to be repeated on Friday. (Reuters)
In 1990, the government established the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) with the aim of settling water disputes among the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry.
The CWDT issued a temporary directive to Karnataka, mandating the release of 205 million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu on a monthly or weekly basis.
After the CWMA's directive to release water to Tamil Nadu, prominent Congress leaders in Karnataka assert that there is no extra water accessible for release.
“Let’s set aside party politics and stand united in protecting our state, language, water, land, and culture. The situation has become critical, and there is no distress formula in place," said Siddaramaiah.
The CWMA's directive mandated Karnataka to maintain the discharge of 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days. However, officials have stated that there is an insufficient water supply available for this release.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been in a longstanding dispute over the allocation of Cauvery river water dating back to the British colonial period. A resolution was reached in 1924 when the princely state of Mysore and the presidency of Madras agreed to a compromise. Read the full story here.
As pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations have called for a 'Karnataka Bandh' on Friday to protest the release of Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda on Thursday said that the Freedom Park is the sanctioned location for protests and rallies in the city.
He warned that if any damage to the property occurs, the respective protesting organization will be held accountable for the costs.
"The sole sanctioned location for protests and rallies is Freedom Park. However, any organisation can lend their support on their own and not by force. If any damage to the property occurs, the respective protesting organization will be held accountable for the costs," Dayananda said. (ANI)
The direction of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to Karnataka to release water at the rate of 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu from Thursday to October 15 will be challenged before the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday.
Siddaramaiah said he has spoken to the State's legal team which opined that it should be challenged in the apex court. "We are challenging the order of the Regulation Committee before the Supreme Court. (PTI)
As pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations have called for a 'Karnataka Bandh' on Friday to protest the release of Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the administration in Bengaluru has declared a holiday in all educational institutions in the city for the day.
"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," said KA Dayananda, Bengaluru City District Deputy Commissioner.
Meanwhile, in view of the bandh, 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, said District Collector Kumar. (ANI)
'Kannada Okkuta', an umbrella organisation for Kannada organisations, on Wednesday claimed that the dawn to dusk bandh called by them on September 29, to protest against release of Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, will be successful, and warned the state government against measures to curtail it.
As part of the bandh from 6am to 6 pm on Friday, there will be a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom park in the city, in which people from all walks of life are likely to participate, the organisers said.
They have said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut highways, toll gates, rail services, and also airports. (PTI)
Normal life is likely to be affected, especially in the southern part of the state, with pro-Kannada and farmers’ organisations calling for ‘Karnataka Bandh’ on Friday to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
‘Kannada Okkuta’, an umbrella organisation for Kannada outfits including factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers’ bodies have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown.
There will be a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom Park in the city, in which people from all walks of life are likely to participate, the organisers said. (PTI)
In response to the call for a 'Karnataka Bandh' by pro-Kannada and farmers' organizations, the Bengaluru administration has decided to call a day off to all educational institutions within the city on Friday.
"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," said KA Dayananda, Bengaluru City District Deputy Commissioner.
Also, 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, said District Collector Kumar. Read the complete story here.
