Medley of Mahadayi protesters call for Karnataka bundh on Jan 27

A conglomeration of pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations dubbed the 'Kannada Okkuta' has called for a Karnataka bundh on January 27.

The purpose of the bundh is to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the Mahadayi river water sharing dispute between Goa and Karnataka and resolve it.    

The decision was taken at a meeting of various state organisations chaired by Vatal Chaluvali Paksha President Vatal Nagaraj.    

Vatal Nagaraj spoke saying the bundh would be observed from 6 am to 6 pm.

Schools, colleges, government & private  firms will remain closed. Bus, auto and cab services will come to a halt.  

Only hospitals, pharmacies, milk suppliers, mass media offices will remain open Nagaraj added.  

A procession of an expected one lakh people will begin at Town Hall and end at Freedom Park.

Among others, Kannada Sene, Jai Karnataka, Raitha Sangha, Kannada Rakshana Vedike will participate in the protest.  

Nagaraj said that Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Bengaluru on January 28 and the bundh has been  called 'to draw his attention' to the Mahadayi water demands.    

"We are willing to call off the bundh if the PM agrees to intervene and resolve the issue," Nagaraj assured.  

Nagaraj urged farmers to prepare for another agitation for the Cauvery water soon.  He was referring to the Supreme Court order to the Centre to set-up a Cauvery Mangement Board for regulating the sharing of the river's waters.    

Meet on Jan 21  

President of the Kalasa-Banduri Non-alligned Raitha Horata Samiti Lokanath Hebbasru said that a meeting will be held in Hubballi on January 21 to chalk out the calendar for various Mahadayi related agitations across the state.