K’taka bandh on Aug 13 over Mekedatu row: Kannada groups back protest, urge people to join

Bengaluru:Several Kannada organisations have extended support to the call for a Karnataka bandh on August 13, protesting Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the Mekedatu drinking water project. Various Kannada organisations met in Mandya and decided to back the bandh, while the Cauvery Hitarakshana Vedike is expected to meet and announce its stand.

Addressing media in Bengaluru on Monday, Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj on Monday appealed to people across Bengaluru to actively participate in the bandh and take to the streets in support of the Mekedatu project.

Addressing the issue in Bengaluru, Nagaraj said the protest was necessary as Tamil Nadu had opposed the implementation of the Mekedatu project without, according to him, providing convincing reasons for its objection.

“We are launching a protest for the Mekedatu project. Tamil Nadu has launched a protest saying that the Mekedatu project should not be implemented. But they are not explaining what problems they would face because of the project,” Nagaraj said.

He warned that Bengaluru could face a serious drinking water crisis if the Mekedatu project does not materialise.

“If the Mekedatu project is not implemented, there will be no water for Bengaluru. Where will you go then? For whom are we protesting? We are protesting for the people of Bengaluru,” he said.

Nagaraj appealed to Bangaloreans, irrespective of their linguistic or regional background, to participate in the bandh.

“There are lakhs of Tamil people living in Bengaluru, just as people from other states also live here. Won’t Tamilians living in Bengaluru drink water? Similarly, won’t Telugu, Gujarati and Marwari people drink water? I am seriously appealing to everyone. If there is no drinking water in Bengaluru, what will be their plight?” he asked.

He said the availability of drinking water was more important than the size or appearance of a person’s house.

“It does not matter how beautiful your house is; you need water. That is why the Karnataka bandh is being observed on August 13. The bandh is being held across the state. Every household should come out onto the streets and make the bandh successful,” Nagaraj said.

Several Kannada activists and organisations have announced their support for the bandh. As part of the protests, Kannada activists reportedly blocked the Hosur Highway near Anekal on Monday while protesting against Tamil Nadu’s stand on the Mekedatu project. Police detained the protesters, following which Vatal Nagaraj staged a dharna.

However, there is no unanimity among Kannada organisations over the bandh.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president T.R. Narayana Gowda has said his organisation will instead hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Another prominent Kannada activist, Sa. Ra. Govindu, has said he will not support the bandh.

KRV leader Praveen Kumar Shetty has also decided not to support the bandh call.

The Ola and Uber Cab Aggregators Owners and Drivers Association has also indicated that it is not keen on supporting the bandh.

Meanwhile, the Cauvery Hitarakshana Vedike is expected to hold a meeting and announce its decision on whether to support the August 13 bandh.

The Mekedatu project has been a long-standing point of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with Karnataka maintaining that the proposed reservoir project is essential to meet Bengaluru’s drinking water requirements, while Tamil Nadu has opposed the project over concerns relating to the Cauvery river and downstream water availability.

With different Kannada organisations taking divergent positions, the extent of support for the August 13 bandh is expected to become clearer in the coming days.

IANS