Karnataka to shut down for Mahadayi on Jan 25

Bengaluru bandh tentatively scheduled for Feb 4

The federation of pro-Kannada organisations has decided to call for a Karnataka bandh on January 25, and Bengaluru bandh on February 4 (or the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Bengaluru), demanding that Modi resolve the Mahadayi river issue.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of various pro-Kannada organisations and Kalasa-Banduri agitation committee here on Sunday. The meeting was chaired by Vatal Paksha president Vatal Nagaraj.

Later, at a press conference, Vatal announced that entire Karnataka would be shut from 6 am to 6 pm on January 25, in solidarity with the Kalasa-Banduri agitators, who are on a protest for the past 915 days.

As the press conference progressed, it was hijacked by the Kalasa-Banduri Horata Samanvaya Samithi members, who demanded that Vatal postpone the Karnataka bandh to February 4.

However, after a closed-door meeting, it was decided that Karnataka bandh would be called on January 25, and Bengaluru bandh on February 4 or the day Modi visits Bengaluru.