Karnataka is set to witness another state-wide bandh on Friday over the Cauvery water row. Normal life is expected to come to a standstill as an alliance of pro-Kannada organisations called for a dawn-to-dusk bandh on Friday, September 29. Here is what citizens need to know about the bandh.
- "Kannada Okkuta", an umbrella organisation for Kannada outfits including factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers' bodies have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
- The organisers have claimed that the bandh will cover the entire Karnataka. They have reportedly threatened to shut highways, toll gates, rail services, and also airports. According to reports, train services between Bengaluru and Mysuru might be affected by the protests.
- Autorickshaw Drivers' Union and Ola Uber Drivers and Owners' Association (OUDOA) are in support of the bandh. Thus, modes of transport are likely to remain limited across the state.
- The Karnataka State Private Schools' Association have extended moral support to the bandh. The students were told that schools may remain shut on Friday in solidarity with the protest, news agency PTI reported. None of the district administrations had announced a holiday for schools and colleges during the time of compiling this report.
- However, Health services such as ambulances and hospitals are likely to be unaffected. Namma Metro will run on all the routes as per the schedule.
- Farmers and traders in the northern part of Karnataka such as Ballari, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Hubballi-Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Koppal and Davangere confirmed they will not shut businesses although they back the bandh morally.
- The Bengaluru City Police have issued a curfew order in Bangalore starting midnight. Section 144 will remain imposed in the city till 12:00 am on Saturday, the police department was quoted as saying by reports.Â
