Bengaluru Bandh on September 26
Bengaluru Bandh protest tomorrow, September 26, is a response to the Karnataka government’s decision to allocate Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) recently instructed Karnataka to continue releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days, following a recommendation by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
The Karnataka cabinet had stated a decision regarding water sharing with Tamil Nadu will be made on September 26 during the next meeting of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. Pro-Kannada organisations and farmer associations jointly called for a Bengaluru bandh (shutdown) on September 26 to protest against the Karnataka government’s decision. They are also planning to conduct a Karnataka bandh on the same day and a decision regarding the same will be taken in a meeting which is scheduled for today, reported HT.
The bandh was called by Kurubur Shanthakumar who is the president of Karnataka Water Conservation Committee. He announced the Bengaluru bandh over the Cauvery issue on September 26 (Tuesday). While pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj, independently called for bandh on September 25.
After a meeting, they decided to make a final announcement on September 25, but Shanthakumar maintained his call for the bandh on September 26.
Shanthakumar appealed to schools, colleges, IT companies and the film chamber to declare a holiday in support of the bandh. He also demanded that the state government convene a special assembly session to address the Cauvery water dispute. A protest march is scheduled from Town Hall to Mysuru Bank Circle at 11 am on September 26. He said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also expressed support for the bandh.