Bengaluru: Kannada Okkoota, a federation of various Kannada organisations, has decided to hold a black flag protest when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Bengaluru on February 4 to address a BJP rally.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, federation leader Sa. Ra. Govindu accused the Prime Minister of ignoring Karnataka’s interests, especially with respect to inter-State water disputes. He alleged that Modi had not bothered to resolve inter-State rows over sharing of Mahadayi water and construction of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery in Mekedatu. Although Karnataka has elected 18 BJP MPs, Modi had neglected such issues and his visits to the State were confined to strengthening the party organisation, rather than helping people of the State, he alleged.

Kannada Okkoota has called a State-wide bandh on January 25 to demand of the Union government to immediately intervene and resolve long-pending inter-State water disputes. Okkoota president Vatal Nagaraj said the bandh would be observed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. He said Kannada organisations, Government Employees’ Association, Lorry Owners’ Association, petrol outlets, hotel owners, private educational institutions, and Auto Drivers’ Union have extended their support to the bandh.