Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appealed to farmers and pro-Kannada organisations to ensure peaceful protests on Friday, Sept 9. Karnataka is observing a state-wide bandh to protest against the Supreme Court order directing the release of 15,000 cusec of water to Tamil Nadu for 10 days.
Pro-Kannada organisations called for a complete shut down. Unions and other groups like the film fraternity have answered the call. Except for emergency services like ambulances, pharmacies and hospitals, everything else is likely to remain shut as protests are expected to turn violent.
"Another Bandh - it's now Bandhaluru where bandhs r affecting productivity - what a sad situation where farmers on both sides can't share," tweeted Kiran Majumdar Shaw on Thursday.
Bus services between Bengaluru and Mysuru have been suspended and 10 companies of the Central forces could be deployed along with state police on the streets of Karnataka to maintain the law and order situation.
4:10 pm IST - H D Kumaraswamy, JD(S) leader, condemned the lathi charge by police on agitating farmers.
2:00 pm IST - Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to PM Narendra Modi and sought immediate intervention on the Cauvery water dispute.
1:30 pm IST - Police lathi-charged farmers at the KRS dam in Mandya as they were trying to enter the reservoir. Entry to the dam and the surrounding Vrindavan Gardens has been stopped for four days.
12:07 pm IST - Film starts of Sandalwood addressed a protest meet at the Film Chamber.
11:30 am IST - Kannada Federation President Vatal Nagaraj hits out at Kiran Kiran Mazumdar for calling Bengaluru "Bandhaluru."
10:43 am IST - Sandalwood stars held protest meet in front of Film Chamber and Taxi association members held protest at Town Hall.
10:30 am IST - A delegation from Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce meets Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala while protestors hold protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru.
9:39 am IST - Former prime minister Deve Gowda to meet PM Modi today on the Cauvery issue.
9:32 am IST - Karnataka's needs must be addressed first from Cauvery n hope both state Govts can resolve this long dispute amicably, said Shaw on Friday.
9:31 am IST -
#KarnatakaBandh over Cauvery water issue disrupts normal life in Gulbarga, visuals from bus stand. pic.twitter.com/0vdZG1WBXg
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 9, 2016
9:00 am IST - Cab driver beaten up at Majestic for plying during bandh.
8:55 am IST - Tamil Nadu buses were seized from Majestic bus station by the police.
8:42 am IST - Visuals from Mandya show a complete shutdown in the region. Pro-Kannada groups are on the streets protesting against the SC order.
8:30 am IST -
Mandya (Karnataka): Pro Kannada organizations call a shut down, protest over Cauvery river water issue pic.twitter.com/x1VbdeMPro
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 9, 2016