The country's tech capital, Bengaluru, will come to a standstill on September 26 as farmers and pro-Kannada groups have called for a bandh from 6 am to 6 pm, demanding Karnataka government stop the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Educational institutions in Bengaluru will remain closed.
Transport services, including the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), app-based auto-rickshaws, and cabs, will be disrupted as most drivers' unions have decided to join the bandh.
Airport cabs are also expected to be affected by the bandh. Airlines and Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) have issued advisories to passengers. In a passenger advisory, BIAL has stated: "Passengers are requested to follow alerts from respective airlines, law enforcement agencies, and media releases for further updates." Akasa Air has asked passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to the departure of their flights.
While some companies have declared a holiday, others including MNCs have directed employees to work from home. Krishna Kumar Gowda, general manager of Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), stated, "ORRCA has not issued any directives to its member companies regarding the bandh. We encourage our member companies to evaluate the situation, considering potential business implications," he said.
K Radhakrishna Holla, president of Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association, and Airport Taxi Owners' Association president Hamid Akbar Ali told Moneycontrol that they will participate in the strike on September 26.
Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner KA Dayananda said that all schools and colleges in Bengaluru have been declared holiday on September 26 due to the bandh. Some private educational institutions have opted to conduct online classes. Meanwhile, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Bangalore University, and Bengaluru City University have postponed their examinations scheduled for September 26 due to the bandh.
Many industries, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and other small local business establishments are expected to remain closed in a show of solidarity with the bandh call.
U Sathyanarayana, honorary secretary of Peenya Industries Association (PIA), said: "Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Peenya have decided to participate in the Bengaluru bandh on September 26."
However, essential services, including hospitals, nursing homes, medical shops, and government offices, will stay open.
Opposition parties, including BJP, JDS, Aam Aadmi Party, and others, have also extended their support for the bandh. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: "Protest is allowed in a democratic system. We are not going to suppress it."
HV Anantha Subba Rao, president of KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation, has announced their full support for the bandh, stating, "We have instructed all BMTC employees not to take any buses out of depots." However, Bengaluru Metro will operate at a reduced frequency.
Some withdraw support for bandh.
While pro-Kannada groups are united against releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, they are divided over the bandh. Pro-Kannada activist and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj, who called for a state-wide bandh on September 29, has announced that they will not participate in the Bengaluru bandh called by Water Conservation Committee president Kurubur Shanthakumar.
PC Rao, president of Bruhath Bangalore Hotels Association, who previously declared support for the September 26 bandh, has now stated that all restaurants will function as usual.
Tanveer Pasha, president of Ola Uber Drivers' and Owners' Association, who had earlier announced their participation in the Bengaluru bandh, has now withdrawn support. He said, "We do not support the Bengaluru bandh on September 26, and our services will operate as usual. Our drivers cannot afford to lose two days of income due to the strike. But we will support state-wide bandh on September 29."
Meanwhile, the government has filed an affidavit in the Karnataka High Court stating that protests will be allowed only in Freedom Park. Protestors have been warned that they will be held responsible for any violation of law and order or damage to public property. The state government is taking precautionary and necessary measures to deploy an adequate number of police personnel to maintain law and order, it said.
B Dayananda, Bengaluru city police commissioner said section 144 will be imposed in Bengaluru from midnight. "No bandh, protests, or processions are allowed as per instructions from the Supreme Court and High Court. Section 144 will be enforced citywide, so gatherings of more than 5 people are not permitted. People can dial 112 for any assistance, and additional police will be deployed to maintain law and order."
On September 21, the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Cauvery Water Management Authority's order to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka government cited a rain deficit in the state as the reason for its inability to release Cauvery water. On September 22, the Karnataka cabinet decided to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as required until September 26 while simultaneously initiating the process to proceed with its Mekedatu project, which is opposed by the neighbouring state.
Also read: Cauvery dispute: Bengaluru bandh on Sept 26; institutions asked to stay shut
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