Karnataka Bandh: Cauvery River water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka sparkes a massive protest

The ongoing narrative between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu regarding the release of the Cauvery River water has not been showing any progress. This sparked a massive protest on Friday opposing the release of the river to Tamil Nadu State. Pro-Kannada and farmers’ organisations have declared ‘Karnataka Bandh’ on September 29, 2023, from 6am to 6pm.

This protest took place as the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, after a lot of consideration from a meeting held on Tuesday, recommended that Karnataka should release 3000 cusecs commencing from September 28th up to October 15th.

VIDEO | Karnataka Bandh: Pro-Kannada outfit members detained by police while protesting outside Bengaluru airport.#KarnatakaBandh pic.twitter.com/KVqtzUYfz2

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 29, 2023

Tamil Nadu solicited 10,000 cusecs of water release for a period of 15 days, to which Karnataka has put forth a water release of 8,000 cusecs for 15 days. Tamil Nadu took this issue to the Supreme Court for support in ensuring that the state receives 24,000 cusecs. In response, the court demanded Karnataka release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

Due to these circumstances, the general public is facing issues as most of the public transportation is not available for the entire day. A total of 44 flights have been cancelled, including 22 incoming and 22 outgoing flights.

Schools and colleges are closed for the day in Bengaluru. Shopping malls, theatres, and restaurants are also not operating. This protest regarding the water dispute resulted in the detention of 50 members of pro-Kannada organizations.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy urged that the state government should release the activists who were detained during the bandh.

“The government should not suppress Kannada sentiments. The activists who have already been detained should be released,” he said.

Farmers’ association protests Cauvery water release by standing in Cauvery water in Tamil Nadu. They want Tamil Nadu to receive access to the Cauvery River’s water.