Educational institutions have declared a holiday on Friday. While some private companies have declared holiday, others are making alternative arrangements like “work from home” for employees.
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Similarly, factories, offices, banks, markets, shops, malls, hotels, eateries, pubs, bars, theatres and petrol bunks have closed in support of the shutdown.
Karnataka Cable Operators Association has chose to express its support for the bandh and the pro-Karnataka stance by refusing to air any Tamil TV channels.
In Mandya, members of the Kasturi Karnataka Janapara Vedike are protesting with have blocked the National Highway, reported The NewsMinute.
A section of farmers in the district staged a protest by walking into the river carrying stones on their head.
“It is the lawful duty of the Centre to resolve the Cauvery issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu”. The transgender community in the district also took part in the bandh related demonstrations.
The state government has lent tacit support to the strike as chief minister Siddaramaiah announced that schools, colleges and government offices were likely to remain shut on Friday. Deploying additional police personnel, the state government has tightened security, stepped up vigil and intensified patrolling to maintain peace and law and order. After a meeting with senior police officials in Bengaluru on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said the government will not oppose the action.
This is the second bandh that the state is bracing for in a week’s time and the fourth this year. The state’s principal opposition BJP has also supported Karnataka bandh.
The Supreme Court had on Monday ordered Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for ten days in order to save the samba crop.
Subsequently, on September 6, Karnataka released the Cauvery water against the backdrop of growing protests by Karnataka’s farmers.
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He said the daily release of 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water at the inter state border, Biligundulu, which, if continued, “would completely deprive the drinking water not only to the residents of Bangalore City but also to farmers of Cauvery basin and water for the only crop they grow”.
