Kannada groups continue protest against release of Cauvery water to TN, threaten bandh call

BENGALURU: Kannada organisations staged a protest in the city on Friday too in protest against the Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) directive to Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Praveen Shetty being whisked away by the police.

Only yesterday, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) had attempted to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha. The activists were detained and later released.

Today, the Praveen Shetty faction of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) took out a rally from KR Puram to Vidhana Soudha, but were detained by the police. The Narayana Gowda faction too burnt effigies at several junctions in the city.

“Former CM S Bangarappa cared for the welfare of the state and Kannadigas and had respect for farmers. The present CM Siddaramaiah himself hails from the Cauvery basin area and we believe he will take a strong decision and Kannadigas will be with him. The state’s MP’s should take up the issue in Delhi. If water is not stopped, we will call for a bandh and we will have different events every day”, said Praveen Shetty.

He also said that the KRV activists will block the Bengaluru-Chennai highway at the Attibele checkpost on Saturday as part of the protest. “If the government does not stop release of water, we will call for a bandh”, he added.

Members of the Kannada Sene staged a protest at Mysore Bank Circle.

Meanwhile, the police detained some Kannada Sene activists even before they could stage a protest at the Mysore Bank Circle. They had earlier set up barricades to prevent the activists from blocking the road. The protesters raised slogans and warned that they will storm the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on September 25. They also plan to gherao houses of elected representatives tomorrow.

The CWMA was burnt in effigy by Kannada activists.

The KRV youth wing staged a protest at the Vijayanagar toll gate. State president Dharmaraj Gowda alleged that the CWMA is not providing proper information to the Supreme Court. “People are fed up of the attitude of the MPs from the state”, he said.

Actor Abhishek Ambareesh at the protest site in Mandya.

In Mandya, actor Abhishek Ambarish, who participated in the protest, said, “The order of the CWMA and the Supreme Court seems unscientific. There are latest technological advancements to predict rain available now. The two states should discuss all these issues and find a permanent solution. Every time there is a drought, it is difficult for farmers to stage protest. The situation could lead to drinking water shortage too”.

Kannada activists also tried to storm the Torekadanahalli pumping station in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district to stop supply of Cauvery water to Bengaluru city. The activists also plan to lay siege to the residences of all MPs from the state tomorrow and show black flags at all events of elected representatives. If the government does not stop release of water to Tamil Nadu, they have planned to give a bandh call as part of the series of protests.

The Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, led by Vatal Nagaraj, has also said that a bandh will be observed in the coming days.