BANGALORE: Today, the bustling city of Bangalore anticipates a complete standstill (on September 26) as various stakeholders rally together to stage a 'Bandh' in opposition to the release of Cauvery river water from Karnataka to neighboring Tamil Nadu. The call for this shutdown emanates from farmer organizations, Kannada advocacy groups, and opposition parties.
In response to this demonstration, authorities have declared a public holiday for all educational institutions in Bangalore, effectively suspending classes. Furthermore, eateries are expected to remain shuttered throughout the day.
To maintain order, Bangalore's Police Commissioner, B Dayananda, has announced the imposition of Section 144 within the city limits, effectively prohibiting gatherings of more than five individuals.
The stage for this Bandh was set during a recent meeting between two factions of activists and organizations. The first faction, led by prominent farmer advocate Kuruburu Shanthakumar, is responsible for today's Bangalore Bandh. The second faction, under the leadership of activist Vatal Nagaraj, failed to reach a consensus on the Cauvery water dispute, resulting in their decision to organize a separate 'bandh.' While farmers have called for today's Bangalore Bandh, Nagaraj, asserting that the farmers' agenda is too narrow, has proclaimed a "Karnataka Bandh" slated for September 29th, during which all national highways in the state are expected to be blocked.
Interestingly, several organizations that initially pledged support for the farmers' protests today have subsequently withdrawn their backing, signaling their likely participation in Friday's Bandh.
In contrast, the Karnataka BJP has extended its unequivocal support to the farmers' cause. Karnataka BJP leader CT Ravi stated, "Today, our state party chief, BS Yediyurappa, has declared our support. We will stand by it and concurrently stage a protest in front of the Gandhi statue."
Meanwhile, the Ola-Uber Drivers' Association has committed to fully endorsing the Karnataka Bandh scheduled for September 29th by pro-Kannada organizations but has chosen not to support Tuesday's Bandh (September 26th).
Conversely, the Hotel Owners' Association has opted to withdraw their support for today's Bandh, citing confusion, and has confirmed that all hotels and restaurants will remain open. On the other hand, associations and unions representing auto-rickshaws and taxis have thrown their complete support behind today's Bandh call. Furthermore, the KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation have instructed Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) employees to refrain from deploying buses from depots throughout the day, spanning from dawn to dusk (6 am to 6 pm).
