Pro-Kannada outfits have called for a bandh in poll-bound Karnataka on April 12 in a counter to the ongoing stir in neighbouring Tamil Nadu for the Centre to constitute early a Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
The Karnataka bandh call came amid the DMK-led opposition parties observing a statewide shutdown in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, demanding the early setting up of the CMB to ensure water for farmers as per the Supreme Court orders.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami, his deputy O. Panneerselvam and other AIADMK leaders had also observed a day-long fast in Chennai on Tuesday seeking formation of the CMB.
Ironically, the CMB has been mandated to be established by the Supreme Court to implement its February 16 verdict on Cauvery water allocation to the riparian states, including Karnataka, whose water share from the river has been raised by 14.75 tmcft per year.
Accordingly, the Karnataka bandh call would give an impression that the Kannada outfits are opposed to an early implementation of the Supreme Court ruling, which has enhanced the state's water share.
The Karnataka bandh was announced by Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj during a protest near Attibele on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border to press the Centre not to yield to pressure from Tamil leaders on the CMB.
Nagaraj heads the umbrella group of Kannada organisations that has called for the bandh.
He came down heavily on actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for supporting the formation of the CMB.
"We will not let the movies of Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan be screened in Karnataka. The two film stars should not come to Karnataka under any circumstances," Nagaraj said.