The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Staff and Workers Federation and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) extended support to the ‘Bengaluru Bandh’ call given by pro-Kannada outfits, political groups and farmers’ associations protesting the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that prohibitory orders under section 144 will be in place across the city from September 25 midnight to September midnight in the wake of the bandh.
KSRTC and BMTC services are likely to be affected on September 26.
“Over 195 taluks in the state are facing drought due to lack of rain. The water in all the reservoirs in the state is not sufficient for use. The rain forecast is also not promising. In this situation, it is not possible to allow 5,000 cusecs of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu every day. Several political parties, pro-Kannada organisations and others across the state have already joined the struggle for justice,” a statement released by the KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation on Saturday read.
ALSO READ: Cauvery Dispute: Protests Intensify in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, All About Water Sharing & Legal Battles
KSRTC called upon the employees urging them to not run any buses in the city from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on September 26.
“The agitation has increased in the Kaveri region. In this background, Bengaluru Bandh has been called on September 26, 2023. Our federation fully supports the bandh call. We call upon all the employees to make the bandh successful without running any buses from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm in all the units of the BMTC. We believe that the bandh will be successful without any kind of incitement and threats,” the statement added.
What’s Closed, What’s Open in Bengaluru?
- KSRTC and BMTC buses – Both KSRTC and BMTC buses are likely to stay off the roads across the city on September 26.
- Private cab services – Ola, Uber Drivers and Owners Association President Tanveer Pasha extended support to the bandh and announced that the services will not be available in the city on September 26. Later Ola-Uber Drivers’ Association said they would extend full support for the September 29 Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada organisations but will not support Tuesday’s bandh.
- Schools & Colleges – Private schools union general secretary Shashikumar said that they would support the ‘Bandh’ by sporting black bands on their arms.
Bengaluru Urban district Deputy Commissioner Dayananda K A has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the city on Tuesday, in the interest of students in the wake of the bandh call. Most private schools and colleges across the city had already declared holiday for students.
Emergency services – Ambulances, pharma vehicles and other essential goods-carrying vehicles will run as usual. Hospitals and medical stores will also remain open.
Calls for protests have forced global firms including Walmart and Alphabet’s Google to ask employees in Bengaluru to work from home on Tuesday.Internal memos seen by Reuters showed multinational firms such as Google, Walmart, IBM and Accenture have advised employees to work from home and avoid any non-essential commuting during Tuesday’s strike.Bengaluru hosts more than 3,500 tech companies and some 79 “tech parks” – upmarket premises that house offices and entertainment areas catering to technology workers.
Why Bengaluru Bandh?
Farmers’ groups and pro-Kannada activists have called for a Bangalore Bandh on September 26 to protest against the Karnataka government’s decision to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Driver unions, including those representing app-based auto-rickshaws and cabs, and restaurant associations have also announced their support to the ‘Bandh’.
The call for the ‘Bandh’ was initially given by the Karnataka Water Conservation Committee president, Kurubur Shanthakumar.
Oppn Extends Support to Bengaluru Bandh
BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Monday said his party would extend cooperation in ensuring that the Bengaluru bandh called by various organisations protesting against the release of Cauvery water is successful. He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar of behaving like agents of Tamil Nadu for complying with orders of the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Water Regulation Committee, which the Supreme Court refused to interfere with.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy separately said his party too would be supporting tomorrow’s bandh. “I have asked my party workers to support the bandh. Our workers will support it. There should be no chance for any untoward incident,” he said.
Won’t Curtail Protests: CM Siddaramaiah
With protests intensifying, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said his government will not curtail them, but underlined the importance of maintaining peace. “In a democracy, we (government) will not curtail protests, but BJP and JD(S) are trying to do politics on the issue,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
Stating that the government will do everything in the interest of the state, as protecting the land, its water and language is a priority, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, “We will not try to control the protests, but peace has to be maintained and people should not face any difficulty.”
(with agencies inputs)
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