Karnataka Bandh: Nearly 44 flights cancelled, normal life hit over Cauvery water dispute

Forty-four flights to and from Bengaluru were cancelled on Friday, when life in the city and parts of Old Mysuru region was disrupted as part of a state-wide bandh call given by pro-Kannada and farmer groups over orders to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Many activists were whisked away at the airport early in the morning when they tried to barge into the airport and hoist Kannada flags inside the airport premises.

The police arrested several protesters across the state, drawing the ire of JD (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, who demanded they be released immediately. The former chief minister said the unity of the "Kannada family" should be a wake-up call to the neighbouring state.


The bandh, which came within days of a previous shutdown, received widespread support from transport organisations, sandalwood stars and political parties. Theatres across the state cancelled shows till evening, with the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association backing the bandh.

"The Cauvery water issue is being politicised. Cauvery water is the lifeline for this area. I am from this district (Mandya) and we will always extend support to this cause," said Kannada actor-director Kiran Kumar, known by screen name Prem.

Many resorted to novel ways of protests. Vatal Nagraj, president of the Kannada Okkuta, wore a burqa and carried an empty pot on his head to signify women's struggle for drinking water. "We do not even have enough water for drinking purposes and Tamil Nadu is asking for water for agriculture," he said.

The Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella body for Kannada organisations, had called for the state-wide bandh on Tuesday after Cauvery Water Regulation Committee ordered the state to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till October 15.

Friday was the third bandh centred around the Cauvery dispute in the state within two weeks. Chief minister Siddaramaiah has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention for an amicable settlement in view of the absence of a formula for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to share distress in a year of low rainfall.