Vatal Nagaraj Detained as Karnataka Bandh Over Cauvery Water Release Begins

The Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu received a mixed response on Thursday, with strong protests in Mandya but little disruption in Bengaluru, Mysuru and several other major cities.

The bandh was organised by the Federation of Kannada Organisations to oppose the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) direction to Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily for 15 days to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka has argued that its reservoirs have received below-average inflows and that water must be conserved for drinking and agricultural needs.

The agitation lost momentum after several Kannada organisations withdrew their support for a complete shutdown. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar welcomed the decision, saying the groups had informed him that they would no longer back the bandh call. Nagaraj was taken into preventive custody at his Bengaluru residence before he could participate in a planned rally. He reportedly staged a silent protest inside his home, refusing to cooperate with police.

Mandya emerged as the main centre of the agitation. Farmers and pro-Kannada activists blocked roads, carried empty pots and displayed horse gram as a symbol of the alternative crops farmers could be forced to cultivate amid water shortages. Protesters demanded that Karnataka release not even a drop of additional Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

In Bengaluru, BMTC and KSRTC services operated normally, while schools, colleges, shops and other establishments remained open. Kempegowda International Airport also functioned without disruption. Mysuru similarly reported normal transport and commercial activity, although police detained activists who attempted to block buses.

Karnataka has indicated that it will consider its next course of action following the Supreme Court proceedings on the Cauvery dispute. The state has maintained that its reservoirs have received substantially lower-than-average inflows and that conserving water is essential for drinking requirements and Kharif agriculture.

The dispute remains politically sensitive, with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu continuing to press competing claims over the river's allocation amid concerns over rainfall and reservoir levels.