Vatal Nagaraj rules out withdrawing Karnataka bandh call
Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj has refused to withdraw the call for a Karnataka bandh on August 13, despite an appeal from Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The protest aims to address multiple issues, including the Cauvery water-sharing dispute, border concerns, and local employment.
Why it matters
The planned bandh highlights ongoing regional tensions regarding water resources and political grievances in Karnataka, which can disrupt local economic activity.
Veteran Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj on Sunday ruled out the possibility of Kannada organisations withdrawing the call for a Karnataka bandh on August 13.
Speaking to reporters during a demonstration in Mysuru, Mr. Nagaraj rejected Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s appeal to call off the Statewide bandh following the recent rains, which have revived hopes of improved inflows into the Cauvery basin reservoirs.
He said the Kannada organisations would not step back from the agitation and sought to make it clear that the bandh had been called not just over the Cauvery issue, but for the overall development of Kannadigas and Karnataka. The Kannada organisations would not succumb to any pressure to call off the bandh, he said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in