A dawn-to-dusk “Karnataka Bandh” called by various Kannada organisations in protest against the release of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu has affected the normal life in Bangalore and in places like Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar.
According to the City police, there were some instances of violence as some persons pelted stones on Bangalore metropolitan transport Corporation (BMTC) buses which were operating in the morning. As per the morning reports the bandh has created a good response and has impacted normal life in many parts of the state.
In Bangalore city locations like Electronic City, Whitefield, ITPL among others where IT companies are located looks deserted with people preferring to remain indoors. Shops, malls, cinema, have all shut down brining the life in the IT capital to a stand still.
Over 80,000 police personnel are deployed to handle the law and order situation in the state.
The 12-hour bandh called by pro-Kannada organisation, is also getting support from trade organizations like Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Karnataka Milk Federation, Wholesale Food Grains and Pulses Merchants' Association and domestic LPG dealers.
“We are supporting the bandh as it is affecting the farmers. We need to protest against this,” said K Shiva Shanmugam, President, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
Many people who reached the city railway station and bus stand in the morning were affect due to the bandh and lack of availability of public transport.. In locations like Shantinagar, Madiwala and Jayanagar areas of the city pro-Kannada activist took out a bike rally in the streets carrying Kannada flags and raising slogans.
Expressing their solidarity to the farmers of Mandya cable TV operators in the city had pulled the plug on all entertainment channels. The Kannada film industry also expressed their solidarity to the 12-hour state bandh and Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce submitted a memorandum to the Governor.
“The situation was by and large peaceful except for stray incidents of stone-pelting at some buses in the early hours of the day. Around 60 activists of various pro-Kannada outfits were taken into preventive custody," said a senior police official. The supporters of bandh also staged protest in front of the metro railway station on MG Road.
Vehicles entering the state from Tamil Nadu were asked to park near the borders due to the bandh, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear on Monday Karnataka’s plea seeking modification or stay on its order to release 9,000 cusec of water to Tamil Nadu, as directed by the Cauvery River Authority (CRA).
