Kannada outfits call for Karnataka bandh on April 12 over Cauvery dispute

Calling for the Karnataka bandh, Kannada leader Vatal Nagaraj said films of Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan will not be screened in Karnataka over their support to Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue

Pro-Kannada outfits on Thursday called for a bandh in poll-bound Karnataka on April 12 in a counter to the ongoing stir in neighbouring Tamil Nadu seeking the creation of a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) without delay.

Members of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association stage 'rail roko' protest during a bandh called by the opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, in Chennai earlier this week. (PTI File Photo)

The Karnataka bandh call came after the DMK-led opposition parties observed a state-wide shutdown in Tamil Nadu on Monday, demanding that CMB be set up without delay to ensure water for farmers as per the Supreme Court’s orders.

Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam and other AIADMK leaders had also observed a day-long fast in Chennai on Monday seeking formation of the CMB.

The CMB has been mandated by the Supreme Court to implement its February 16 verdict on Cauvery water allocation to the riparian states, including Karnataka, whose water share from the river has been raised by 14.75 tmcft per year.

Accordingly, the Karnataka bandh call would give an impression that the Kannada outfits are opposed to an early implementation of the apex court ruling which has enhanced the state’s water share.

Nagaraj heads the umbrella group of Kannada organisations that have called for the bandh. He came down heavily on actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan for supporting the formation of the CMB.

“We will not let the movies of Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan to be showed in Karnataka. The two film stars should not come to Karnataka under any circumstances,” Nagaraj said.