Karnataka Bandh: Pro-Kannada activists, protesting farmers arrested; state to endure Rs 4,000 Cr loss

Two days after Bengaluru witnessed a shutdown, the entire state of Karnataka is observing a bandh today over the Cauvery River water dispute. So far, authorities have detained over 50 members of pro-Kannada organisations across different parts of the state. Pro-Kannada organisations are holding protests against releasing Cauvery River water into Tamil Nadu amid a drought-like situation in several districts of Karnataka. The state-wide shutdown has been called by ‘Kannada Okkuta,’ a pro-Kannada group, and will stay in effect for 12 hours till 6pm.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Pro-Kannada outfits hold protest on Cauvery water sharing issue in Freedom Park, Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/WrTUYt2rEX

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2023

In Bengaluru, protestors were seen holding pots and brooms in Freedom Park.

#WATCH | Pro-Kannada outfits in Karnataka's Hubballi stage protest over the Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/V8nLFNzg47

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2023

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Pro-Kannada groups have planned to organise a massive rally from Bengaluru’s Town Hall to Freedom Park. Section 144 imposed in Bengaluru  In view of the bandh, the Bengaluru city police have imposed Section 144 for 24 hours. Similar orders have been put in force in Karnataka’s Mandya district. “We have made adequate arrangements of the force. We will see that no untoward incident takes place,” Shekhar H Tekkannavar, DCP, Crime, Bengaluru city told ANI.

#WATCH | Karnataka: On bandh called by several pro-Kannada organisations, regarding Cauvery water issue, Shekhar H Tekkannavar, DCP, Crime, Bengaluru city says, "We have made adequate arrangements of the force. We will see that no untoward incident takes place..." pic.twitter.com/S2CZ6qB0zp

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2023

Bengaluru Metro saw only a few passengers in view of the bandh.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Less number of passengers were seen at Vijayanagar Metro Station, Bengaluru because of the Bandh called by various organizations regarding the Cauvery water issue. pic.twitter.com/MFM5OslnmI

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2023

Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union and Ola Uber Drivers and Owners’ Association (OUDOA) have joined the chorus to support the bandh called by pro-Kannada organisations in the state. Karnataka bandh: What’s shut? All shops, malls and other commercial establishments will remain closed in the state during the course of the bandh. Similarly, hotels, restaurants and movie theatres along with taxi and auto services will not operate in the state. Apart from this, pro-Kannada organisations have also called for an attempt to shut down highways, toll gates, rail services, and airports. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru and Mandya district administrations have announced the closure of all schools and colleges under their jurisdiction. Karnataka shutdown: What’s open? In Bengaluru, metro rail services will remain operational while the State Transport Department has ordered state transport corporations to continue their services as usual. Banks, hospitals and medical shops will be open during the state-wide bandh. K’taka to endure massive loss over bandh The southern state would have to endure a loss worth Rs 4,000 crores, according to industry estimates. The president of the Karnataka Employers Association (KEA), BC Prabhakar said that calling a state-wide shutdown would hurt the livelihoods of people and that they can “never be an option for any issue, sentimental or political.” “One day closure by only the trading community amounts to a Rs 100 crore loss in GST collection to the state exchequer. Consider this multiple times across all spheres of economic activities,” Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, FKCCI president-elect said according to Deccan Herald.