Bengaluru: The state-wide bandh called by various pro-farmers and pro-Kannada organisations on Friday to protest against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu brought Bengaluru to a halt. Schools and colleges and offices in the IT capital city were closed.
Most of the business establishments, including hotels and roadside eateries, medical shops and cinema theatres were closed due to the dawn to dusk bandh. Protestors were seen blocking the roads, including Mysore Road, GM Palya Main Road, Outer Ring Road, TC Palya, Kanakapura Road and other important roads by burning tyres. A youngster stabbed himself at the Freedom Park protesting against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Activists of pro-Kannada organisations were seen conducting mock funeral of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in front of Town Hall. Kannada activists were seen shouting slogans against the state government and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Some of the activists were seen beating posters with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa with sandals.
Thousands of protestors gathered at Attibele protesting against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Vehicles were stopped from entering Karnataka border by the Tamil Nadu police by putting up barricades. The police allowed only two-wheelers to enter Karnataka and other vehicles would be allowed only after 6 pm. Youngsters were seen playing cricket during the bandh.
Shivarajkumar loses cool
A meeting was organised in front of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to protest against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Shivarajkumar lost his cool when a group of people started shouting slogans in support of Darshan. “I do not know why you are shouting slogans in favour of some artistes. It is the time to raise your voice against the release of water to Tamil Nadu. I want to know why Chief Minister Siddaramaiah failed to bring an ordinance like how my father-in-law S Bangarappa did when he was the chief minister,’’ Shivarajkumar said. Darshan, Puneeth Rajkumar, Vijaya Raghavendra, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Tara Anuradha, Ragini Dwivedi and other prominent personalities of Sandalwood attended the meeting.
Tension at Ecospace
Tension prevailed at Ecospace when a group of activists attempted to barge in. According to the police, the employees of two call centres at the Ecospace had finished their shift around noon. The activists assumed that the offices at Ecospace were functioning. The police and security guards stopped the activists when they attempted to barge in.
Passengers stranded at airport
Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the Bengaluru International Airport due to the state-wide bandh. Some of the passengers were arrived at the airport on Thursday night even though their flights were on Friday. They arrived early at the airport to avoid getting stranded due to non-availability of transport facility.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw slams Karnataka bandh
Opposing frequent bandhs in Karnataka, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon Ltd, on Friday tweeted – “Yes we should rename our city as Bandhaluru. I am in Delhi working. No day off for me.” She also said that it is sad that people of two states are not able to share water.
Condemning Kiran Mazumdar Shaw for suggesting to rename Bengaluru as Bandhaluru, Kannada Chaluvali leader Vatal Nagaraj has advised her to leave Bengaluru and live in other place if she continues to criticize Bengaluru and Karnataka. “I recommend her to be admitted to NIMHANS for treatment,’’ Vatal Nagaraj said.
