Cauvery River Dispute: Why are farmers and Kannada supporters protesting? Extensive security arrangements regarding the bandh

Tamil Nadu Protests are continuously increasing in various parts of Karnataka regarding the release of water from the Kaveri river. Farmers and Kannada supporters have called for a widespread strike today. Due to which strict security arrangements have been made. Since morning the protesters took to the streets and started agitating. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the police is fully prepared to deal with any situation.

What is the matter, why are farmers and Kannada supporters protesting?

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), in its order given on September 12, had directed Karnataka to provide 5,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days. CWRC had upheld this order. The Supreme Court had refused to interfere in these orders on Thursday. After which protests started in different parts of Karnataka.

What is the demand of the protesters

Farmer organizations and pro-Kannada organizations expressed their anger by protesting in the Cauvery river valley districts of Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara, Bengaluru and other parts of the state. The protesters urged the state government not to release water to the neighboring state. Karnataka says it is not in a position to release water to meet its needs of irrigation water and drinking water for standing crops in the Cauvery river valley areas as there is water shortage due to less rainfall in the monsoon.

Home Minister Ji Parmeshwar said, it is their right to protest

On protests by farmers and organizations at various places demanding the Karnataka government not to release water and instead protect the interests of the state, Home Minister G Parameshwara said, there is nothing wrong in it. It is their right to protest and the government has no objection to it. But public property should not be destroyed, they should not be involved in any illegal activity and people should not be inconvenienced. I appeal to him in this regard.

Police force ready to deal with untoward incident during bandh

Home Minister G Parameshwara said that if any untoward incident occurs, the police is fully prepared to deal with the situation. He said security personnel have been deployed near KRS Dam and other places where protests are taking place in Mandya district. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayanand held meetings with his subordinates and directed all deputy commissioners of police in the city to remain alert and increase security in their respective jurisdictions, especially in Tamil dominated areas, to avoid any untoward incident.