Stir gains steam in Mysuru, students jump into fray

There were widespread protests in Mysuru city and neighbouring villages on Thursday against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.Various organisations have called for the Karnataka bandh on Friday following the Supreme Court direction to the state to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

While advocates, who have been staging protests in the city since a couple of days, took out a bike rally to KRS dam and staged a demonstration there on Thursday, students of 45 postgraduate departments of the University of Mysore staged a road block at Paduvarahalli Circle on Hunsur Road.

Dalit Vidyarthi Okoota, Researchers’ Association, Bahujana Vidyarthi Sangha, Vidyarthi Basava Balaga, Yuva Pragathipara Chinthakara Sangha and Hindulida Vargagala Jagrutha Vedike had extended support to the university students.

The students boycotted classes, assembled near the Manasagangothri Round Canteen, and marched towards the Paduvarahalli Circle via the Senate Bhavan. The students said that Karnataka had been facing several setbacks in the Supreme Court regarding the water disputes with the neighbouring states, due to the failure of the advocates.

“The state government should take caution at least now. It should see to it that the advocates convince the judges about the ground realities and the sufferings of the people of the state, due to scarcity of water,” they said.

Members of Hyder Ali Development Unit took out a two-wheeler rally in the city. They reached the deputy commissioner’s office from Ghousia Nagar via Udayagiri, Shanthinagar, Fountain Circle, Irvin Road, Babu Jagjivan Ram Circle and JLB Road. Corporator Suhail Baig was present.

Members of Social Democratic Party of India protested with empty pots at Fountain Circle. They alleged that the Congress, BJP and JD(S) were politicising the Cauvery issue and they were not interested in taking the issue to a logical end.

Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists staged a road block on KRS Road. Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangha formed a human chain near the Varuna Canal on the Nanjangud Road. Karnataka Sena Pade members staged a protest at Agrahara Circle, and activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Shivaramegowda faction) staged a demonstration at TaRaSu Circle.

BSP workers staged a protest demonstration in front of the deputy commissioner’s office, demanding the release of farmers and fellow party workers, who were arrested in Kollegal on Thursday, while protesting against the state government in connection with the Cauvery water sharing dispute. They condemned the police action against the agitators, who were led by their state unit president N Mahesh in Kollegal.