The Karnataka bandh call given by pro-Kannada outfits on January 25 and Bengaluru bandh on February 4 in protest against the Mahadayi River water sharing for drinking purposes between Karnataka and Goa has churned war of words between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP.
The bandh call coincides with the rallies of BJP president Amit Shah in Mysuru on Jan 25 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally on February 4 at Bengaluru. It has been termed by the BJP as politically motivated and supported by the ruling Congress to scuttle BJP leaders rallies.
Both leaders of the BJP are visiting the poll-bound State to take part in the concluding functions of Parivartana Yatra of Yeddyurappa. The ensuing Assembly polls are a real big fight for both the ruling Congress and the BJP. Addressing the media Yeddyurappa directly blamed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for indirectly supporting the bandh in Mysuru and Bengaluru.
He said, “There is no necessity for Karnataka bandh. If there was a bandh in the affected area, it is fine. However, what has Mysuru got to do with the issue?” Mysuru is the home town of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and he is also contesting from a constituency there.
Accusing the CM of extending support to the bandh with “malicious” intent, he said “the CM is trying to create confusion, stop buses and close schools and colleges as done in the past…I have not heard of any Chief Minister behaving in such a manner.” However, he said his party was committed to protect the State’s interest in Mahadayi.
However the Chief Minister termed the allegations of BJP is baseless. “Will Vatal Nagaraj or Kannada organisations listen to the Government... why should we ask them to organise bandh? It is a problem for the Government if there is a bandh,” he said, adding, “We have nothing to do with it, let the BJP go and request Kannada organisers against the bandh.”
Though differences have emerged among Kannada outfits over the bandh call, Vatal Nagaraj, who heads ‘Kannada Okkoota’, an umbrella organisation of Kannada bodies, said there would be a State-wide dawn to dusk bandh on 25 January, demanding the Prime Minister’s intervention.
However, the BJP has decided to organise the rally in Mysuru on January 25 in spite of the bandh call where party president Amit Shah will address the gathering which is politically significant for the saffron party to take on the Congress in old Mysuru area.