#CauveryIssue: Tamilians, Kannadigas and everyone in between talk about futility of violence

The Cauvery issue flared up on Monday after the Supreme Court directed the Karnataka government to release 12000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu till 20 September, modifying its earlier order that said 15000 cusecs were to be released.

The city burnt as protesters set vehicles on fire; trucks and buses from Tamil Nadu were pelted with stones near Bengaluru.

As the issue gathered momentum, so did social media chatter on the issue. Various users called out not only for peace but also there were many who expressed concerns about living in Bengaluru and the city’s relationship with Chennai.

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation had suspended all bus services to Tamil Nadu and metro rail services in the city were temporarily suspended in Bengaluru. Every week a significant number of people travel between Bengaluru and Chennai. Many such travellers used social media to share their travel woes.

#Cauvery: Tamil Nadu SETC stop at Hosur, not going to Karnataka #buses #hosur #Karnataka #CauveryProtests #CauveryIssue

— Musafir Namah (@MusafirNamah) September 13, 2016

Trouble spots in Bangalore City #CauveryIssue https://t.co/98bUOovvd3

— தமிழன் (@VJYuvi) September 13, 2016

Was planning to do Chennai Bangalore tonight. Now planning to go opposite direction and reach Sri Lanka instead.

— Murali Satagopan (@muralisatagopun) September 12, 2016

However, in light of the violent protests, many residents from Bengaluru and Chennai voiced their views and offered help through Twitter and other social media platforms.

A few users expressed their frustration with the current state of affairs and lamented over the violence that took place in the city. Violence in the city during the protests made many citizens wonder about their safety in the state.

I had a thought of working in Bangalore. After this incident I won't.. I'm Tamil. I don't have safety in Karnataka. #CauveryIssue

— komesh (@komesh4) September 13, 2016

This is not the #Bangalore I knew. Certainly not the one I want to go back to. #BangaloreRiots #CauveryIssue #CauveryProtests

— Reeneta (@Glamshutter) September 12, 2016

I moved back to Chennai 2 years back remember my friends fleeing Bangalore , hiding their TN registered cars such was the anger!

— SuperStar राज (@rajsan2016) September 9, 2016

Despite this, there was a general feeling of nostalgia for the great relationship that the two cities have shared in the part. Several users quoted examples from the recent Chennai floods, when hundreds of Bengalureans came together to send across help for the Chennai citizens.

Be the great Bangalore that let it's heart out to Chennai during floods..not the one that's currently getting projected! #CauveryIssue

— sav_ts (@savitha_ts) September 12, 2016

While a curfew has been imposed across 16 areas in the city, users took to social media earlier on Tuesday to spread the word about the BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) services that have been resumed.

#CauveryProtests: #Bengaluru BMTC resumed its operation in City, Bus services hit the road.
@BMTC_Bangalore @NewIndianXpress

— Mebin John (@mebinjohnn) September 13, 2016

I hope @Uber services in Bengaluru have not been suspended over #CauveryProtests. We need you!

— Dr. Deeban Ramasamy (@DeebanR) September 13, 2016

Meanwhile, a couple of users reported about disturbance in an area in the city, while the Bangalore City Police has announced that the situation is under control in most areas.

Protests continue in Hegganahalli in Bangalore despite curfew, Police use teargas shells to disperse mobs #CauveryProtests

— Rajesh 🇮🇳 (@ranjalrajesh) September 13, 2016

#CauveryProtests situation peaceful, no fresh incident reported, forces on high alert, skeletal bus service resumes

— BCP MAN (@HMLokesh) September 13, 2016

After many vechicles were torched, users wrote about how perhaps setting things on fire was not the best way one could drive the point across about a dispute on water sharing in times of water shortage.

Not sure if fire can ever solve water. #CauveryProtests #CauveryWaterWar #CauveryIssue #Cauvery

— Saurabh Kochhar (@saurabhkochhar) September 13, 2016

Only in India could you have monsoon flooding cities and villages while two states tussle and burn over sharing river waters #Cauvery

— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) September 6, 2016

This is the problem with our society - that instead of fighting for rivers, we fight over rivers #CauveryIssue

— The Bad Doctor (@DOCTORATLARGE) September 12, 2016