Cauvery row: Deve Gowda writes to PM Modi, urges to form expert panel
Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the ongoing Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and constitute an independent expert panel to derive a distress water-sharing formula.
Releasing the letter at a news conference, the former prime minister said that Modi should direct the Jal Shakti Ministry to file an application in the Supreme Court informing it of deputing an expert panel to study water availability in the reservoirs of Cauvery basin.
Karnataka High Court grants bail to IPS officer arrested in police recruitment scam
Over a year after a senior Karnataka IPS officer was arrested in connection with a scam in recruiting police sub-inspectors for the state police, the Karnataka High Court Monday granted bail to him with stringent conditions. A single-judge bench granted bail to Amrit Paul, 56, in the PSI recruitment scam case with the condition that the officer should not intimidate or threaten junior police officers who investigated him.
Congress high command warns Karnataka leaders from making ‘unacceptable and unwarranted’ remarks
As factionalism threatened to further embarrass the Karnataka government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Congress high command has stepped in to rein the ranks in and advise party leaders against responding to “rumours”. Any remarks that went against party interest were “unacceptable and unwarranted”, according to a letter by K C Venugopal, AICC general secretary (organisation).
In a major disappointment to the fans, South African comedian Trevor Noah on Wednesday cancelled the show citing 'technical issues'. While he apologised to those who attended he also said that the money would be refunded.
Trevir Noah on X (formerl Twitter) said, "Dear Bengalaru (Bengaluru) India, I was so looking forward to performing in your amazing city but due to technical issues we’ve been forced to cancel both shows. We tried everything but because the audience can’t hear the comedians on stage there’s literally no way to do a show. We’ll make sure all ticket holders receive a full refund and again I’m so sorry for both the inconvenience and disappointment this has never happened to us before."
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Joseph Sebastian who missed attending the show because of traffic congestion in Bengaluru, said, "This incident is unbelievably frustrating. I left Indiranagar at 6:05 pm and hustled through the 100 feet road traffic for 25 minutes. By the time I reached Banaswadi, it was already 7: 30pm and the traffic congestion in the region was out of control. I could spot a lot of cars who were heading to the event, but unfortunately made U turn because of traffic. The tragedy is that there is limited accountability on the side of organizers and also the traffic management personnel." Sebastian bought two tickets worth Rs 5000 each for the show.
'Kannada Okkuta', an umbrella organisation for Kannada organisations, on Wednesday claimed that the dawn to dusk bandh called by them on September 29, to protest against release of Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, will be successful, and warned the state government against measures to curtail it.
As part of the bandh from 6am to 6 pm on Friday, there will be a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom park in the city, in which people from all walks of life are likely to participate, the organisers said.
They have said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut highways, toll gates, rail services, and also airports.
The Bengaluru bandh called by 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti', an umbrella outfit of farmers and Kannada organisations, and backed by the BJP and JD(S) on Tuesday in protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu evoked a partial response.
Kannada Okkuta had not supported the Bengaluru bandh. (PTI)
Pro Kannada activists led by Vatal Nagaraj staged a protest outside Karnataka Film Chamber regarding the Cauvery water dispute. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)
Suspension of Metro train services between Mysore Road and Kengeri on 29/09/2023 on Purple line.
In view of the Statutory Safety Inspection of the newly constructed extension line between Kengeri to Chellaghatta Metro stations on September 29 by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety, the train services will not be available between Kengeri and Mysore Road Metro stations full day.
However, train services will be available in the following sections.
1) Between Baiyappanahalli to Mysore Road Stations full day and
2) Between Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapura Stations full day. There are no changes to the train services on the Green Line.
The direction of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to Karnataka to release water at the rate of 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu from Thursday to October 15 will be challenged before the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday.
Siddaramaiah said he has spoken to the State's legal team which opined that it should be challenged in the apex court.
"We are challenging the order of the Regulation Committee before the Supreme Court. We don't have water to give," the CM told reporters at Male Mahadeshwara Hills in this district.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the CWRC rejecting the request of Tamil Nadu, which wanted Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs. (PTI)
The BJP and JD(S) on Wednesday jointly staged a protest against the Congress government in Karnataka, accusing it of 'failure' in handling the issue of releasing Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
The protest in front of Gandhi statue of Vidhana Soudha here, was the first such event, which saw the coming of BJP and JD(S) leaders, after both parties last week formally announced alliance for Lok Sabha polls next year.
JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy along with some of his party legislators and leaders, joined BJP leaders including former Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa, D V Sadananda Gowda, state President Nalin Kumar Kateel and several of its legislators and MPs in the demonstration organised by the saffron party against the government.
JD(S) last week decided to ally with the BJP following a meeting of its leader Kumaraswamy with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President J P Nadda in New Delhi. (PTI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday sought to take a swipe at the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-headed JD (S), saying it should not call itself a secular party after forging an electoral alliance with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
JD(S) on Friday decided to ally with the BJP following a meeting of its leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy (Gowda's son) with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President J P Nadda in New Delhi.
"They have now made an alliance with BJP for elections, what should we call them?" Siddaramaiah asked in response to questions by reporters at Konanakere in this district.
"Name says secular. Are they secular now? Should we accept what they say ? Even after going with a communal party, still they are secular? Should we accept ? Let them go with BJP or anybody we don't have objections. But they should not say they are secular, that 's all. They should not say that Janata Dal is a secular party", the CM said JD(S) had earlier formed governments in coalition with both BJP and Congress respectively for 20 months from January 2006, and for 14 months from May 2018, with Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister. (PTI)
JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday defended the decision of aligning with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, stating that it was aimed at saving the party, and assured that he and his political outfit will stick to its secular credentials and never let minorities down.
The former prime minister also sought to clarify that the JD(S) was not power-hungry and does not practice opportunistic politics.
The JD(S) on Friday decided to ally with the BJP following a meeting of its leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy (Gowda's son) with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda in New Delhi.
"We (JDS) have never done politics by even slightly letting down our secular credentials and there is no question of doing it in the future too. I'm saying this very frankly. Before Kumaraswamy met BJP leaders, I had met the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah), there is nothing to hide in it, and had spoken to him on the situation in Karnataka politics in detail," Gowda said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there is nothing for anyone to fear, as in 50 years of political struggle, he had not let injustice happen to any community from this party. (PTI)
BJP and JD(S) leaders staged a protest over the ongoing Cauvery row in front of Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Wednesday
Justifying his party’s alliance with the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda Wednesday attacked the Congress for trying to destroy secular forces across the country while maintaining a facade of secular democrats.
The pact with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was announced last week, does not mean that the JD(S) is deviating from secular ideals, said Deve Gowda. “Even if we form a government with the BJP, we will not let go of minority protection. There should be no doubt that we will protect the minorities,” he told a news conference held to explain the recent JD(S) decision that has sent shockwaves in the regional party ranks.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached properties worth Rs 62.05 crore under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 against Chitra Poornima and others in a case related to encroachment of Government land and cheating. The attached properties are in the form of one immovable property located at Indiranagar, Bengaluru, and fixed deposits worth Rs 2.63 crore in the name of the accused persons.
Read more here.
The Karnataka High Court has directed the payment of gratuity with interest to a retired state government employee who had not been paid gratuity for 16 years.
In the order passed on August 9 and recently became available, a single-judge bench consisting of Justice M Nagaprasanna pulled up the government for its “callousness” for close to two decades. The petitioner, employed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Belgaum, had approached the court for a writ in his favour. He joined the college as a clerk in 1973 and retired 34 years later after reaching the age of superannuation.
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A Tech Fusion Sunrise Summit-2023 has been organised on September 27 between leading IT company representatives and Home Minister G Parameshwara. The interactive session aims to foster conversations on key areas: traffic control, safeguarding employees (emphasizing women), infrastructure progress, and potential collaborations on community-focused policing in Karnataka.
Home Minister G Parameshwar on Wednesday announced that Bengaluru will soon have a "Bengaluru Cybersphere Center for Excellence", a collaborative initiative between the Home Department, the Government of Karnataka, and the leading ICT/Biotech companies in Bengaluru. This center will serve as a state-of-the-art hub for knowledge sharing, innovation, and skill development, aiming to enhance security, foster partnerships, and contribute to the prosperity of the city.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a post X (formerly Twitter) said, "The Cauvery Water Control Committee's order to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next eighteen days is shocking. We are going to discuss this with the legal team and take the next decision. The Inter-State Water Disputes Act clearly states that the Central Government should intervene to resolve disputes related to water sharing. We have been pleading for the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the past one month."
Four people including three women died after a car collided with a KSRTC bus near Bellur cross in Nagamangala taluk in Mandya district on Wednesday morning. The initial probe revealed that the car was heading from Hassan towards Bengaluru.
More details awaited.
The Bengaluru bandh Tuesday called to protest the Karnataka government’s move to release 5,000 cusecs of water from the Cauvery River for Tamil Nadu, evoked a mixed response.
The bandh, which did not have a go-ahead from the administration, managed to affect a few pockets of Bengaluru. The central part of the city was the worst hit with the protests affecting some of the arterial roads. The other parts of Bengaluru witnessed a partial bandh. While some of the business establishments remained closed, hotels and restaurants continued to operate as usual.
In south Bengaluru, non-essential establishments remained shut while chemist shops and hospitals remained unaffected.
Read to know more about what happened yesterday.
Karnataka Environment and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has directed the additional chief secretary (forest, ecology and environment) to constitute a state-level task force to clear encroachments of forest lands. He has also issued directions to create a separate task force for Bengaluru, which, according to the minister, witnesses forest encroachments daily.
The directives, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, were issued to the Additional Chief Secretary (forest, ecology and environment) Jawaid Akhtar on September 22. According to the directions, the task force should comprise officials from forest, revenue, home, urban development, rural development and panchayati raj departments.
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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says that Karnataka will challenge the CWRC recommendations in the Supreme Court. He said that he has discussed with the advocates who have opined that the decision should be challenged.
Lawyers of the Advocates Association Bengaluru requested Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Prasanna B Varale to ensure that Tuesday’s listed cases are not “damaged” due to the absence of lawyers. The request came in furtherance to the association’s letter on Monday which said the work may be affected due to the bandh called in Bengaluru over the Cauvery water-sharing issue. The association cited that several lawyers come from rural districts.
Read more here.
Generally cloudy skies with rain/thundershowers are very likely in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures in the city are very likely to be around 30 and 21 degrees Celcius respectively.
HAL Traffic BTP in a post on X (formerly Twitter) said, "Croma service road is clear now, commuters can use this route."
A traffic cop deployed on bandh duty in Bengaluru Tuesday found a dead rat inside the food packet supplied by a local hotel. The Vidyaranyapura police have filed a criminal case against the food supplier. (Read further)
The association in a statement said, "The Cauvery issue has caused a lot of difficulty for Bengaluru and other Cauvery basin districts. In this regard, the TN (Tamil Nadu) stand is unfortunate and amounts to forceful pressure...in the coming months there would be severe shortage of water in Bengaluru and surrounding districts..." (Read more)
A total of 771 protestors were detained by the city police during Bengaluru bandh today and were released later.
Former CM Siddaramaiah made a public appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to intervene in the Cauvery water dispute. "Karnataka's plea is simple: intervene, help us secure our rightful share of Cauvery waters, and protect our farmers' future," he wrote on X.
Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy says that the recent recommendation of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee sounds a death knell to Kannadigas. Karnataka government should insist that it will not release water until a distress formula by is finalised by CWRC and CWMA, he said.
The Bengaluru bandh Tuesday, called to protest the Karnataka government’s move to release 5,000 cusecs of water from the Cauvery River for Tamil Nadu, evoked a mixed response.
While the bandh, organised by a few pro-Kannada organisations, political parties like the BJP, the AAP and the JDS and other organisations, saw education institutions, small industries and businesses remaining shut, public transportation and essential services continued to function.
The bandh, which did not have a go ahead from the administration, managed to affect a few pockets of Bengaluru. The central part of the city was the worst hit with the protests affecting some of the arterial roads.
The other parts of Bengaluru witnessed a partial bandh. While some of the business establishments remained closed, hotels and restaurants continued to operate as usual.
In south Bengaluru, non-essential establishments remained shut while chemist shops and hospitals remained unaffected. Some vehicle showrooms also operated as usual. Read more
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) recommended the Karnataka government to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu from September 28 to October 15. The decision was following a meeting today.
In its submission, the Karnataka government had states that it is "not in a position to release any water from its reservoirs or contribute any flows from its reservoirs to the flows to be maintained at the interstate border Biligundlu."
Bandh is being observed in Karnataka's Mandya.
The Karnataka government has issued a final notification regarding the delimitation of wards in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), reducing the number of wards from the proposed 243 to 225. This decision comes in preparation for conducting elections to the BBMP, with reports suggesting that the Congress government is considering holding the elections in December this year.
Read more here.
Accusing opposition BJP and JD(S) of politicising the Cauvery row, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday rejected allegations that his government has failed on the issue and said his administration has never lagged behind in protecting the interests of the state, its people and farmers. He reiterated the importance of the distress water sharing formula and the construction of a Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river as the resolution for the dispute with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
The Bengaluru bandh called by farmers and Kannada organisations and backed by the BJP and JD(S) on Tuesday in protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu evoked partial response, with most of the public services functioning normally, but many people staying indoors.
"It is most unfortunate that BJP and JD(S) are potlicising the Cauvery issue. They are doing it for the sake of politics and not in the interest of the state or its people," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.
PTI.
CM Siddaramaiah said, "Organized by Chief Minister @siddaramaiah on behalf of Mysore District Administration and Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Mysore. Br. Inauguration of Ambedkar Bhawan, Foundation stone laying of Putthali work of Sant Shrestha Kanakadasar and Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna and Inauguration of 'A-Help State Level' training program for Veterinarians, 4th round of foot and mouth fever vaccination program under NADCP scheme and Veterinarian Inauguration Ceremony."
Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday flayed the Congress government in the state for alleged detention of farmers and Kannada activists participating in the 'bandh' here to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The protesters and farmers should be released immediately, he said, adding Cauvery water flow to Tamil Nadu should be stopped.
"What a surprise it is? On the one hand, those (Congress leaders) who (earlier) marched for Mekedatu (balancing reservoir project over river Cauvery) have arrested farmers and activists who were fighting for Cauvery river in the streets today," the Janata Dal (Secular) leader said. "Arresting the protesters overnight is the height of mischief by the Congress government in Karnataka," he added.
"Is there one justice for Congressmen and another justice for Kannadigas in Karnataka? If the Congress leaders can go on a Mekedatu padayatra in violation of the Covid rules, shouldn't the Kannadigas protest for the lifeline of Karnataka, Cauvery?" Kumaraswamy asked. "Is this the government of Kannadigas or a proxy government of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin? Who did Kannadigas vote for?" Kumaraswamy charged that the ongoing Cauvery "crisis" was the result of the Congress party becoming the DMK's 'B' team.
The Supreme Court declined to interfere with the order of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), directing Karnataka to release 5000 cusecs (cubic feet of water per second) until September 27. Karnataka has been complying with the order amid pressure and protests from political parties, farmers' outfits and other organisations.
PTI.
Karnataka's opening submission remarks before CWRC requesting to report the following facts. Read more here on the thread:
Several protesters were seen protesting in Freedom Park, amid tight security.
Express Photos: Jithendra M.
Several activists of Kannada organisations are seen raising slogans with the word "Cauvery Cauvery..."
Talking to reporters former PM HD Deve Gowda said, 'My party has already extended support for a peaceful 'bandh'."
Taking to reporters in Mysuru Siddaramaiah said, "Any bandh can be called, we have no objection to that. Though there is SC verdict, but we won't disturb them, let them call the bandh."
In the photo, buses stand still at the Kalasipalyam private bus stand, with theatres being closed and fewer people on the road.
Express Photos: Jithendra M.
A tussle between the protesters and the police near the Town Hall.
Farmers' groups called the protest, which forced multinational companies such as Walmart and Alphabet's Google to tell employees in the city to work from home, according to internal memos seen by Reuters. Bengaluru hosts more than 3,500 tech companies and some 79 "tech parks" housing offices and entertainment zones for technology workers.
In the photo, the Brigade Road bus stand sees very a few patronage in view of Bengaluru Bandh. Usually, buses from Brigade Road carries IT professional travelling to Electronic City who work for companies like Infosys, Wipro etc.
Express Photo: Sanath KP
With inputs from Reuters.
Residency road where multiple schools and colleges are located, wears a deserted look on Bengaluru Bandh.
Express Photos: Sanath KP
Shops remain closed in Bengaluru amid bandh in the city over the Cauvery water row protest.
Express Photos: Jithendra M.
'No large public gatherings' will be allowed, said a senior police officer, K. Santosh Babu, adding that emergency orders had been imposed, according to a report by Reuters.
Several activists of Kannada organisations were taken into custody by the police at Town Hall, as they gathered there to stage a protest.
Express Photos: Jithendra M.
Several pro-Kannada organisations, farmer groups, and labour unions have called for a bandh today, with the support of the opposition BJP and Janata Dal Secular.
A Bengaluru shutdown has been called by 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti from dawn-to-dusk (6 am to 6 pm) today, a group of farmers' associations led by Kuruburu Shanthakumar. Shanthakumar and other leaders were detained by the police at Mysuru Bank circle while trying to hold a protest march towards Town Hall.
Several activists of Kannada organisations were also whisked away by the police at Town Hall, as they gathered there to stage a protest.
Farmers' leaders and Kannada activists hit out at the government for allegedly using police force to curtail the protests and bandh. Farmers and pro-Kannada organisations are likely to stage a protest at the Freedom Park, which is a designated place for such demonstrations.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that prohibitory orders under Section 144 are in place across the city from midnight on Monday to midnight on Tuesday in the wake of the bandh.
With inputs from PTI.