Bengaluru News Highlights(September 25): Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Monday said that his government will not curtail the protests and the bandh being called over the issue of release of Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. He also said the state government will place its argument more forcefully before the Supreme Court on the issue when it next comes up for hearing. Follow for more latest updates on the bandh here. What is the issue: The Karnataka government was directed by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to release 5,000 cusecs (cubic foot per second) of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from September 13. The Supreme Court in an order on September 21 also refused to interfere with the directions of the CWMA after petitions were filed against the authority’s decision by the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu government. Bengaluru Bandh and Opposition Parties reaction: While some farmers' outfits have called for 'Bengaluru bandh' on Tuesday on the Cauvery issue, several Kannada outfits, under the banner 'Kannada Okkuta' led by Kannada activists Vatal Nagaraj have called for state-wide bandh on September 29. Opposition parties BJP and JD(S) and other parties such as Aam Aadmi Party and Bengaluru Navanirmana Party have extended support to the agitation.
