Loan waiver, water issues: Pro-Kannada units call for Bandh in Karnataka on June 12.
Bengaluru: To push for a variety of demands including farm loan waiver, Prime Minister’s intervention in the Mahadayi river water dispute and a permanent solution to the problem of water scarcity in arid areas, pro-Kannada bodies have called for a Karnataka bandh on June 12.
‘Kannada Okoota’, an umbrella organisation of Kannada bodies, has called for a dawn to dusk bandh.
Their charter of demands include exile of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) activists from the state for their alleged ‘anti Kannada’ activities in Belagavi and farm loan waiver.
Read: Agrarian distress: 5 farmers commit suicide in 3 days across states Vatal Nagaraj, who heads Kannada Okoota, said in a statement that the bandh is also against Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the Mekedatu project across the river Cauvery and proposal to privatise BEML.
Kannada Okoota, which claimed support from several like- minded organisations, said Nagraj would meet office bearers of Karnataka Employers’ Association on Sunday to seek their support for the bandh.
The Karnataka government has locked horns with the neighbouring Goa on the larger issue of sharing the Mahadayi River water between both the states.
Read: Announce a ‘complete farm loan waiver’: Shiv Sena to BJP The Kalasa-Banduri project is being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply in the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag.
The Mahadayi tribunal has asked the states to resolve the issue out of court settlement through negotiations, with or without third party intervention.
(With inputs from PTI)