Bengaluru Bandh: From CWRC Meeting To Farmers Performing ‘Last Rites’ Of Karnataka CM As Protest, See All Updates

On September 26, Bengaluru Bandh has been called for and a request has been for educational institutions to remain shut for the day. A holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in the city..

New Delhi: A call for Bengaluru Bandh has been made for September 26 by organisations and activists as a mark of protest against the State Government’s stand on releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu; the decision ordered by the Cauvery Water Management Authority. Bengaluru Bandh for Tuesday, September 26 has been called for, from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and this day-long strike is expected to disrupt public services including transport and markets. An appeal has been made by the farmers’ organisations and pro-Kannada activists to the schools, colleges, markets and IT companies of the city, to cooperate with their protest and shut down the institutions for a day as a mark of support. Initially, some colleges had confirmed but now an official holiday has been declared for all educational institutions in Bengaluru. Take a look at the schools that will remain shut on Tuesday as part of protest and what’s open and what’s closed during Bengaluru Bandh..

Bengaluru Bandh Today: Schools Closed On Sept 26

As mentioned earlier, a formal, official announcement regarding the closure of schools and colleges in support of the Bengaluru Bandh for September 26 has been made. An official order has been issued by Dayananda K.A, the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner which reads, ‘As bandh has been declared by various organisations, holiday has been declared for all schools and colleges in Bangalore city in the interest of students.’

Bengaluru Bandh: What’s Open, What’s Closed

1. There are no changes in the operation of the Namma Metro Services by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
2. State-Run Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) may be affected; they are yet to decide about their plan and will do so after assessing the law and order situation.
3. AITUC-backed KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation has decided to actively participate in the Bengaluru Bandh and this means that the bus services will naturally be affected. According to the President of KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation HV Anantha Subba Rao, “We have instructed all employees in Bengaluru to ensure the success of this bandh by not taking any buses out of BMTC depots.”
4. A section of autorickshaw drivers has declared their full support towards Bengaluru Bandh and have decided to keep off road on Sept 26 but TM Rudhramurthy, General Secretary of Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU) has said that they morally support the Bandh but are yet to make a decision about whether they will stay off road or not.
5. Quite a few restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, film theatres, local businesses and industries are also expected to remain shut in solidarity with the Bengaluru Bandh; President of Bruhath Bangalore Hotels Association PC Rao has expressed his support.
6. It has been confirmed by B Dayananda, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner that all security measures will be taken, officers are on high alert in case of any vandalisation and essential services like hospitals, nursing homes, government offices and medical shops will remain open on September 26, 2023.

Bengaluru Bandh Reason

Supreme Court, on September 21, refused to interfere with the order by Cauvery Water Management Authority to release 5000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. On September 22, Karnataka Cabinet gave their nod for the same and decided to release the water to Tamil Nadu till September 26 and also start simultaneously, with their Mekedatu Project which was opposed by TN. Following this decision of the government, there have been several protests in the state; Mandya Bandh also happened on September 23, 2023.