Protests rock Bengaluru for third day against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu

BENGALURU: For the third day in a row, protests by various Kannada groups against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu continued across the city on Saturday.

At the Attibele checkpost on National Highway-48, leading to Hosur and Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) took out a rally from the toll booth to the border post where they attempted to block the highway. They were, however, detained by the police. Earlier, they held empty pots and raised slogans against the Karnataka MPs.

“The state government is of Kannadigas and should protect the interests of our farmers and Kannadigas. The CM should take a firm decision to stop release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The Bengaluru MPs should also raise the issue with the PM or should resign and join our protest. Almost 200 taluks have been declared as drought-hit. If this continues, we will not allow any Tamil films to be screened in Karnataka. We will also stop telecast of Tamil TV channels in the coming days”, Praveen Shetty said.

Activists of the Jaya Karnataka Sanghatane rolling on the road to register their protest.

Activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) staged a protest on Hosur road at Electronics City and raised slogans against the state and central government. They also burnt the Tamil Nadu government in effigy and said that they are ready to go to Delhi and stage a protest against the Centre.

In Malleswaram, KRV activists staged a protest with empty pots, coconut shells and stones on their heads. The activists of the Shivarame Gowda faction said Tamil Nadu has 10 tmcft of water and alleged that this was a conspiracy of the neighbouring state. “The Karnataka government has failed and there is a shortage of drinking water. There is a lack of regional will like in Tamil Nadu and our elected representatives are weak”, they said.

Former BJP CMs B D Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai were among the protesters.

Film producer Sa Ra Govindu said, “Kannadigas are now doubting the intentions of the central government as the state has been meted out injustice at every step as regards language and water issues. The Supreme Court order is unscientific and they should send a team to verify the ground situation”.

At Moodalapalya Circle in Vijayanagar, KRV activists raised slogans against the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the state government.

The BJP also staged a protest at the Mysore Bank circle where Basanagouda Patil Yatnal questioned the state government on why it released water to Tamil Nadu before the Supreme Court gave its ruling. Several party leaders including B S Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai, Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Govind Karjol, Bangalore Central MP PC Mohan, MLAs and MLCs took part in the protest.