Bengaluru: Karnataka is witnessing protests against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s film ‘Jana Nayagan’ after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) order directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
Pro-Kannada groups and farmers were seen tearing down posters of the film in several parts of the state. According to reports, several theatres suspended screenings of ‘Jana Nayagan’ amid the statewide protests over the water release order.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday appealed to Vijay to defer his proposed August 3 visit to Bengaluru in view of the charged atmosphere in the state.
Shivakumar said the state government had initially planned to host the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for talks but later decided to request a postponement after consultations with Cabinet colleagues and the legal team, so that the meeting could take place in a peaceful atmosphere.
“I request him to defer his proposed visit for a short while. At present, the atmosphere is beginning to improve. There is good rainfall and water inflows are increasing. Let us hold our meeting in a more conducive and cordial atmosphere,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
He said he had already spoken to Vijay and would again request him to decide on another date instead of August 3 mutually.
“Whenever a guest visits our state, we should receive them with warmth and cordiality. Karnataka has always welcomed people from across the country. We should not hurt anyone’s sentiments,” Shivakumar said.
Meanwhile, pro-Kannada organisations on Friday announced a statewide bandh on August 13 to protest the CWMA’s order directing Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj made the announcement after a meeting of various Kannada organisations in Bengaluru to chalk out the future course of the agitation.
Addressing a press conference, Nagaraj said the Karnataka bandh would be observed from 6 am to 6 pm on August 13.
“I appeal to the people of Karnataka to cooperate and support this bandh. Let us make the Karnataka Bandh a grand success from Belagavi to Chamarajanagar,” he said.
He also criticised political parties for allegedly trying to derive political mileage from the Cauvery dispute.
The organisations opposed the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, arguing that Karnataka itself is facing a water shortage and that releasing water at this stage would adversely affect the state’s farmers.