Karnataka Bandh News Live Updates: The Bengaluru police reportedly detained over 700 protestors trying to block the roads during the state Bandh.Cauvery Water Dispute Highlights (September 30): On the day of the Karnataka Bandh, CM Siddaramaiah said a review petition will be filed before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Supreme Court today, stating that “we do not have water and therefore cannot release water.” This decision was announced following a meeting held to consult retired Supreme Court judges, irrigation experts and advocate generals to consider the next course of action on Cauvery issue.
The review petition move comes after an order directing the Karnataka government to release 3,000 cusecs of water, along with the backlog of 12.5 TMC, to Tamil Nadu till October 15. In the 25th Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting on Friday, Karnataka had requested CWMA to consider the prevailing shortages in 4 of its reservoirs and for the authority to review the earlier directions of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 3,000 cusecs from September 29 till 15 days.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said there was no need for a Karnataka Bandh called by pro-Kannada groups over Cauvery row on Friday as his government is protecting the interests of the state, as reported by news agency PTI. The Bengaluru police reportedly detained over 700 protestors trying to block the roads during the state Bandh. However, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, addressing a press conference, said that those taken into custody as a precaution were released later.
World Heart Day was celebrated in Bangalore on Saturday. Due to the Karnataka Bandh, it was postponed from its designated day (Sept 29) to today. Minister of Health and Family Welfare of Karnataka Dinesh Gundu Rao was a part of a heart health awareness walkathon programme to bring awareness about heart disease among the public.
The Karnataka government will form a panel headed by a senior IAS officer to probe the alleged irregularities in appointing billionaire Dayanand Pai as the life trustee of BMS Educational Trust.
A discussion regarding the same was briefly held by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar and other stakeholders on Thursday. According to sources privy to the meeting, an inquiry, headed by a senior IAS officer, has been ordered into the alleged irregularities in appointing Pai. (Know more)
Karmatala CM Siddaramaiah said that steps should be taken to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. He further added that funding to build barricades to prevent animals from coming out of forest areas will be looked into. The CM also instructed th forest department officials that it is their responsibility to provide fodder and drinking water for wild animals within the forest area and urged them to take appropriate action in this regard.
A special investigation team of the Bengaluru police that was constituted last month to investigate anonymous threat letters received by several writers and scholars in Karnataka over the last two years has arrested a 41-year-old man from Davangere and identified him as the perpetrator of the letters sent by post.
The SIT was constituted on the direction of police chief Alok Mohan after writers approached Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the anonymous letters that were threatening and abusive. Seven police complaints had been filed by renowned writers, the chief minister was told. (Read full story here)
The Central Crime Branch sleuths have arrested a man from Davangere who had allegedly written threat letters to litterateurs and intellectuals, police sources said on Saturday.
The CCB has obtained 10 days' police custody to dig out more information from him, the sources added.
According to the information received, over 15 writers and intellectuals from the state had met Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, stating that they had been receiving threat letters for the past one year.
They also said they received letters saying that they will meet the fate of late activists M M Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh.
The activists were shot dead by a fringe right wing group in the past. PTi
Talking to reporters, Bommai was quoted by ANI as saying: "There was no coordination between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. However, the lack of coordination between the Home Minister and top brass of the department had been established. The state has now initiated a legal battle. The work of talking to legal experts should have been done long ago. At least now, the government must honestly fight the case and see to it that no anti-State orders were issued in the coming days." The former CM said the government must have held talks with legal luminaries and farmers. "It should have consulted a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Shivraj Patil in regard to land, water and borders of Karnataka. There are other legal experts with whom the government should have held talks," he said.
The chief minister spoke to reporters at his Home-Office 'Krishna' on Friday after a meeting with retired Supreme Court judges and former Advocate Generals of the state.
Siddaramaiah said they have given some opinion and suggestions. It was suggested to form an expert advisory committee to the government exclusively regarding the irrigation projects of the state.
"Data collection and advisory work should be done by the committee. The committee should advise the government and provide information to the legal team about inter-state water disputes," he said about the suggestion aired in the meeting.
Siddaramaiah said action will be taken accordingly.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Law Minister H K Patil and Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy were among those present at the meeting. PTI
Generally cloudy sky. Rain/thundershowers very likely. Surface winds likely to be strong at times. Maximum and Minimum temperatures very likely to be around 28 and 20 degrees Celsius respectively.
On September 21, a special bench of the Supreme Court set up to hear the cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu which agreed to swiftly hear Karnataka's petition seeking approval for the Mekedatu project. This construction of the reservoir aims to be a balancing reservoir with storage capacity of 67 TMC feet of water.
Siddaramaiah said, "the former judges and advocate generals have advised the government to make use of the opportunity to present their argument for the project before the supreme court on how the project can solve the water sharing dispute between both the states permanently."
Replying to a question, the Siddaramaiah said that a special session will be called if an occasion arises. He replied that there will be contempt of court only when the order is deliberately disobeyed.
With protests against state government intensifying over Cauvery water share dispute, the Karnataka government on Friday decided to challenge Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to release 3,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu till October 15 in the Supreme Court. The government will file a review petition before CWMA and Supreme court on Saturday.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Friday evening met retired supreme court, high court judges and former advocate generals of Karnataka took their suggestions.
After the meeting he said, "we will file a review petition before the CWMA and the Supreme Court tomorrow (Saturday). The state is not in a position to comply with the directive due to lack of water in our Cauvery reservoirs."
The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said a review petition will be filed before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Supreme Court on September 30, stating that "we do not have water and therefore cannot release water".
Earlier in the day, the CWMA endorsed the direction of its assisting body, Cauvery Water Regulation Committe (CRWC) asking Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
The CM spoke to reporters at his Home-Office 'Krishna' after a meeting with retired Supreme Court judges and former Advocate Generals of the state.
Farmers in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirapalli on Friday held protest over Cauvery river issue by blocking buses from Karnataka. In Karnataka, a statewide Bandh was called on Friday.
The Karnataka High Court has refused to interfere in the construction of a flyover in Hubli, noting that the matter is more in the nature of an executive decision than judicial and that merely because some among the petitioners had subject expertise, it would not warrant stopping the project.
A group of “public spirited citizens” had lodged a PIL in this case. The order was passed by a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Prasanna Varale and Justice Krishna Dixit on September 21. Read more
In Karnataka, an estimated 96,150 patients are affected by severe heart attacks (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) causing sudden deaths every year, according to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, which implemented a STEMI heart attack management programme in March. Read the full report
CM Siddaramaiah-led government held consultations with retired Supreme Court judges, irrigation experts and advocate generals to consider the next course of action on Cauvery issue.
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In Karnataka, an estimated 96,150 patients are affected by severe heart attacks (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) causing sudden deaths every year, according to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, which implemented a STEMI heart attack management programme in March.
“The STEMI India model is a hub-and-spoke model, where tertiary hospitals with cathlabs function as hubs and taluka and district hospitals as spokes. A multifunctional ECG integrated multi-parameter monitoring unit with data entry capability (STEMI kit) is installed in the spoke hospitals and in the ambulances connecting them. The STEMI kit enables remote diagnosis of ECGs by the cardiologist in the hub hospitals or, by a remote panel of doctors through artificial intelligence,” the department said in a press note on Friday. Read on to know more
Hundreds of protestors were detained during Friday's Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada organisations and farmers' outfits to protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. The Bengaluru Police detained over 700 agitators who tried to block roads during the day-long shutdown. Addressing a press conference in the evening, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said the bandh passed off peacefully in the city, where there were no reports of stone pelting, forceful closure of shops, and stopping of vehicles plying on roads. A total of 785 protesters were detained and taken into custody as a preventive measure. But they were all released later, he said. PTI
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) today to question the silence of 32 BJP Members of Parliament (MPs) in regards to raising the Cauvery issue with the Prime Minister.
The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) held its 25th meeting on September 29, 2023, ordering the release of 3000 cusecs of water, along with the backlog of 12.5 TMC, to Tamil Nadu till October 15, 2023. Tamil Nadu had insisted for the release of 12500 cusecs of water to save its crops. However, Karnataka requested CWMA to consider the prevailing shortages in 4 of its reservoirs, which would be insufficient to meet its requirement for irrigation and drinking water needs. It therefore requested that the authority review the directions of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 3000 Cusecs from 29.9.23 for 15 days to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka government will hold consultations with retired Supreme Court judges, advocate generals to consider the next course of action on Cauvery issue, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said after the order.
Celebrities from the Sandalwood film industry gathered today at the Gururaj Convention Center, to show their support to Karnataka’s farmers over the ongoing Cauvery water dispute. Read here to know why the Cauvery dispute had flared up again.
Express photos by Jithendra M.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah felicitated the Indian Blind women's cricket team who won the gold medal and the blind men's cricket team from Karnataka who won the silver medal in the IBSA World Cricket Tournament (Cricket for Bind) at the Home Office Krishna today.
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, "Karnataka bandh is totally peaceful...All the people are cooperating. We have given full protection to everyone. We requested the institutions not to call for a bandh since there is no consent from the Supreme Court or High Court. So, Bengaluru and Karnataka are safe...In the afternoon there is a meeting, I have sent our team there...We will discuss various issues..."
Vendors themselves being occupied by playing games inside KR Market as lack of customers due to Karnataka Bandh.
Actor Shivarajkumar apologises to actor Siddharth who was forced to leave press conference of his Tamil movie in Bengaluru yesterday
Sandalwood film stars Darshan, Shivarajkumar, Dhruva Sarja, Pooja Gandhi, Duniya Vijay among others gather at Gururaj Convention Center, to stand in solidarity with Karnataka’s farmers over Cauvery water dispute.
Sandalwood film stars Darshan, Shivarajkumar, Dhruva Sarja, Pooja Gandhi, Duniya Vijay among others gather at Gururaj Convention Center, to stand in solidarity with Karnataka’s farmers over Cauvery water dispute.
Interstate private buses stopped functioning in Kalasipalya bus depot due to Karnataka Bandh
"Troubling the common man and Artists like this can not be accepted.. as a Kannadiga .. on behalf of Kannadigas," he said in a tweet.
Farmers and pro-Kannada organisations staged protests outside the airport as well.
A group from pro-Kannada organisations gathered near the arrival gate of Kempegowda International Airport here to register their protest over the Cauvery water dispute.
They started raising slogans following which they were taken into preventive detention by the Bengaluru Police. "We have taken 12 people into preventive detention. They had gathered at the airport premises to register their protest over the Cauvery water dispute. They were detained and taken into preventive detention," a senior police officer said.
Similarly, agitation took place at bus stations where the activists staged demonstrations and raised slogans holding banners, posters and placards.
The agitators blocked many roads in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar leading to a chaotic situation. PTI
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) said there were only 59.88 per cent bus operations in southern parts of Karnataka.
The worst-hit KSRTC divisions in terms of operations were Mysuru and Chamarajanagar.
Against the scheduled departure of 447 buses, only seven plied in Mysuru while in Chamarajanagar, eight out of 247 bus services operated.
Mandya, Chikkamagaluru and Bengaluru witnessed 37.25 per cent, 51.49 per cent and 57.39 per cent operations, respectively, against the scheduled departures.
Bus stands and railway stations in southern Karnataka and the airport in Bengaluru wore a deserted look.
Farmers and pro-Kannada organisations staged protests outside the airport as well. PTI
Karnataka bandh: Passengers face harrowing time due to cancellation of flights, bus services Bengaluru, Sep 29 (PTI) As many as 44 flights to and from the Kempegowda International Airport here were cancelled owing to the Karnataka bandh over the Cauvery water sharing issue with Tamil Nadu, airport authorities said on Friday.
Similarly, state transport corporations too cancelled many of their bus services, especially in the Cauvery basin districts of Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar, where the bandh had the most impact.
Some passengers had a harrowing time as they missed their flights, buses and trains due to the day-long shutdown. Many passengers were distraught following the cancellation of flights and bus services.
"We cancelled 44 flights today. They include 22 flights to and an equal number of flights from Bengaluru due to the strike," an airport official told PTI.
"We have come over here to protest against the Cauvery water issue. This is very old issue and we should solve this problem at the earliest. All the parties of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka should sit and sort out this matter," says a member of a pro-Kannada organisation on Cauvery River water issue.
Karnataka Bandh Live:
Vatal Nagaraj who arrived with his supporters at Townhall has been detained by the Bengaluru police. The leader of pro-Kannada organisations has been leading the protest against the state government over Cauvery water distribution dispute.
"He has been taken into preventive custody," said Bengaluru City police commissioner B Dayananda
Vatal Nagaraj who arrived with his supporters at Townhall has been detained by the Bengaluru police. He has been leading the pro-Kannada organisation's protest against the state government over Cauvery water distribution dispute.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday demanded that the state government release the activists detained during the bandh to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Today's bandh was called by the 'Kannada Okkoota', an umbrella organsation of Kannada and farmers' outfits, to oppose the release of water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. PTI
More than 1,900 pro-Kannada and other associations support the bandh call given by Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella organisation. Vatal Nagaraj, head of the organisation, said Thursday the shutdown would be observed from Belagavi or Bidar to Chamarajanagar and from Mangaluru to Kolar.
Protestors from pro-Kannada organisations have intensified rallies and sloganeering for Cauvery, especially in Bengaluru.
Members were seen shouting slogans such as "We need justice" and claiming "Cauvery namadu" (Cauvery is ours) in Freedom Park. Pro Kannada outfits, farmer groups and other organizations who gathered to protest at Townhall were detained by police and sent to Freedom Park. A total of 100 platoons are deployed in Bengaluru for bandobast.
Jain association leader Madan Lal Jain, 87, in Bengaluru participate in Karnataka Bandh in town hall. He was detained by the police and let off.
Pro Kannada outfits, farmer groups and other organizations who gathered to protest at Townhall were detained by police and sent to Freedom Park. A total of 100 platoons are deployed in Bengaluru for bandobast.
More than 1,900 pro-Kannada and other associations support the bandh call given by Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella organisation. Vatal Nagaraj, head of the organisation, said the shutdown would be observed from Belagavi or Bidar to Chamarajanagar and from Mangaluru to Kolar.
Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association on Thursday in a statement said that it will not screen any movies on Friday till 6pm across the state. In a statement KV Chandrashekara, president of the association said that they will extend support to the bandh and the evening (6-7pm) show will be screened.
Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce has called for a gathering near their office in Gandhinagar at 10 am to stand in solidarity with Karnataka’s farmers. Film actors including Shivarajkumar, Prajwal Devaraj, Ajay Rao, Dhruva Sarja, Vinod Raj, among others are expected to join the protest. NM Suresh, president of the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce said, “Our protest is not against the state government. The entire film fraternity stands in solidarity with our farmers and the Kannadigas at this time of distress. We are not holding any protest march or rally because of section 144. However, all the actors will gather at Gandhinagar to show their support for the farmers.”
Over 200 people detained including members of pro-Kannada outfits protesting for Cauvery, according to DCP central division Shekhar T.
Pro Kannada outfits, farmer groups and other organizations who gathered to protest at Townhall were detained by police and sent to Freedom Park. A total of 100 platoons are deployed in Bengaluru for bandobast.
Kannada Okkuta a blanket organization of pro Kannada groups will be gathering at Townhall later in the day to protest against the state government’s decision to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu amidst water shortage in Karnataka. At Townhall alone the police department have deployed 200 police personnel, including 20 central reserve police members, four platoons of KSRP, and 100 City Armed Reserve.
The Karnataka bandh so far has recieved a lukewarm response, with pro Kannada outfits, pro farmer organizations and other associations protesting in various districts of Karnataka including Bengaluru, Mysore, Mandya, Chikamagalur among others.
The bandh situation in Bengaluru gets a mixed response with BMTC buses continuing to operate with fewer occupancy, many hotels closed and protestors gathering in different parts of the city to protest. Bengaluru roads see minimal vehicular movement as many working professionals have confined to work from home. BMRCL and other public transport services largely remained unaffected.
22 incoming flights and 22 outbound flights from Kempegowda International Airport stands cancelled on the account of Karnataka Bandh. According to Airport authorities, the 44 flights are cancelled due to operational issues and the same was notified to passengers in advance.
The usually bustling Bengaluru-Mysuru highway is deserted today in view of the Karnataka Bandh.
Pro-Kannada outfits have taken to the streets of various parts in sourthern Karnataka. Many members were seen rolling on roads carrying pots a form of protest against releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
The police have deployed additional forces across the state, especially in south Karnataka, where the Cauvery river flows. “The security in Mysuru, Kodagu, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara and Bengaluru has been beefed up compared with north Karnataka,” a senior police officer said.
Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, Thursday launched an advanced SOS QR code, and a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education programme aimed at saving lives during medical emergencies.
The main objective behind the programme is to ensure that every critical patient receives timely assistance during the ‘Golden Hour’.
Besides traffic signals, the QR codes will be placed near institution gates, corporate buildings, school buses and yellow construction helmets for easy accessibility to medical help.
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To manage traffic effectively, the Bengaluru police will now seek a daily count of vehicles entering the tech parks on the Outer Ring Road stretch from the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA). The move comes after long hours of traffic congestion resulted in nearly 3.5 lakh vehicles hitting the stretch on Wednesday.
The traffic police department aims to plan a staggered exit for those working in the tech parks on the basis of the number of vehicles entering the parks on a given day. The department is also suggesting the vehicle users start and exit early in order to manage traffic smoothly along the ORR stretch.
Read the full report
The state-owned transport corporations operated very few buses in the southern districts fearing a backlash.
The bandh evoked a mixed response in other regions of the State.
Express photos by Jithendra M
Theatres across the State have cancelled shows till evening, with the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association backing the bandh.
Most of the information technology companies and other firms in Bengaluru have asked their employees to work from home.
Key market areas in Bengaluru such as Chikpet, Balepet and adjoining business areas wore a deserted look.
The Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union and Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Associations too have extended their support to the bandh