Karnataka Bandh: Call for statewide shutdown on Sept 29 over Cauvery, KFCC holds meeting

Following the Bengaluru Bandh on Tuesday, which saw various organisations, including farmers and pro-Kannada groups, unite in demanding that the Karnataka government refrain from releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, the state finds itself embroiled in yet another bandh-related turmoil. This time, it's a statewide bandh scheduled for September 29, and preparations and political manoeuvres are in full swing.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has convened a crucial meeting at 11:30 am today to deliberate on the strategy for the upcoming statewide bandh. The film industry, an influential entity in Karnataka, is gearing up to decide its role and contribution in the ongoing protests.

Adding to the unrest, pro-Kannada organisations have announced their intent to gherao the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at 12 noon today, as per the sources. Their aim is to voice their grievances directly to the government and demand a reconsideration of the decision to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Taking the political battle over the Cauvery dispute to a new level, the BJP and JDS (Janata Dal Secular) which have forged an alliance, will for the first time stage a joint protest in front of the Gandhi statue at 11 am on Wednesday outside Vidhan Soudha, sources said. Their collective protest targets the Karnataka government over releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

BJP, JD(S) doing politics: Siddaramaiah

Accusing the opposition parties, BJP and JDS, of exploiting the Cauvery dispute for political gains, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah firmly refuted allegations of his government's failure to address the issue. He emphasized that his administration has consistently prioritized the welfare of the state, its residents, and farmers.

“It is most unfortunate that BJP and JD(S) are politicising the Cauvery issue. They are doing it for the sake of politics and not in the interest of the state or its people,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.

Karnataka Bandh

Another bandh has been called by a pro-Kannada group over the Cauvery issue. The announcement of the statewide bandh scheduled for September 29 was made on Monday by the 'Kannada Okkuta' group, led by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj. This came a few days after the 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti,' a coalition of farmers' associations and other organisations led by farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar, had already called for a shutdown in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Vatal Nagaraj expressed that they had urged the 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti' to postpone their bandh and join forces with them on September 29.

“What we have called is Akhanda Karnataka bandh (entire Karnataka bandh) on September 29. It will be observed across the state without leaving any district. Our fight is for the entire Karnataka. Kannada Okkuta has organised more than 50 bandhs in the whole state so far,” he said, as he questioned why the bandh was called by others only for Bengaluru.

It is pertinent to mention that the BJP and JDS extended their support to Bengaluru Bandh. It remains to be seen if these two parties will also lend their support to Nagraraj's statewide shutdown scheduled for September 29.

(With inputs from agencies)