Protest in Karnataka Tomorrow Against Cauvery Water Release to Tamil Nadu:
Pro-Kannada associations, including various factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS), have been preparing for a Karnataka bandh scheduled for tomorrow, lasting from 6 am to 6 pm. The purpose of this bandh is to voice their opposition to the release of water to Tamil Nadu. However, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar appealed to the leaders of these associations, stating that permission would not be granted for the bandh. Instead, the associations are encouraged to conduct peaceful protests.
Tomorrow, protesters plan to organize a rally from the Town Hall premises to Freedom Park. Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar emphasized that guidelines issued by both the High Court and Supreme Court must be adhered to. He called for protests but discouraged the observation of a statewide bandh.
Regarding Tamil Nadu’s demand for water release, they have requested 11,000 cusecs of water. Karnataka officials have been instructed to attend the Cauvery Water Management Authority meeting in person. Shivakumar expressed confidence that these officials would effectively present Karnataka’s perspective during the meeting.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee has previously mandated the release of 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. Future actions will be decided after the upcoming CWMA meeting.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP voiced his party’s support for the Karnataka bandh. Additionally, the Karnataka State Hotels Association held a meeting in Bengaluru and passed a resolution to support the bandh. Narayan Gowda, the president of the Mysore Hotel Association, announced that various establishments, including hotels, restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops, fast food outlets, tea/coffee shops, and chat centers, will remain closed from 6 a.m. to 6 pm on Friday as a sign of solidarity with the pro-Kannada associations.
Gowda added that members of the Hotels Association will assemble at Kote Anjaneya Temple in the Mysore Palace premises and organize a rally to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. State-owned buses and Metro services will operate as usual.
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