Cauvery Issue: Modi Appeals for Calm as 2 Die in Violent Protests
One civilian has been killed and another injured in police firing in the city’s Hegganahalli area on Monday evening.
- Bengaluru came to a standstill as protests turned violent between Kannadigas and Tamils.
- Karnataka will seek for modification of the Supreme Court order: CM Siddaramaiah
- PM Modi said violence is not the solution; dispute can only be solved within the legal ambit.
- Curfew imposed in seven police limits in Bengaluru.
- Two civilians have lost their lives in the violence since Monday.
- 15,000 policemen and officers have been deployed all over the city.
- Section 144 CrPC imposed in Bengaluru.
- Many offices and schools reportedly shut down for the day.
- The SC directs Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water instead of 15,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu every day for the next ten days.
An uneasy calm enveloped Bengaluru even as protests erupted at Mandya and Mysuru in southern Karnataka, on Tuesday, over the Cauvery water row with Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu was peaceful, with security beefed up for businesses owned by Kannadigas and also for popular personalities of Karnataka origin.
In Bengaluru, India’s IT hub, one person was killed and two others were injured in police firing on Monday night to quell violence.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Bengaluru police imposed curfew for three days from early Tuesday in the city’s north-west, south-west, north east and central areas. “The situation is peaceful across the city,” said Bengaluru Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh.
Curfew was relaxed since morning for Muslims to offer Eid prayers at mosques and Idgah maidan in some localities.
Tamil Actor Vijay Urges Civilians to Let the Elected Leaders Solve the Cauvery Issue
Popular Tamil actor, Vijay expressed his disappointment at ordinary civilians and citizens being attacked.
He said that it is to solve such issues that we have elected our leaders.
Curfew to Continue
Bengaluru Police Commissioner said that prohibitory orders of 144 CrPC as well as curfew orders in 16 police limits will continue.
Bengaluru in an Uneasy Calm
Uneasy calm prevailed in violence-hit Bengaluru on Tuesday even as protests resumed at Mandya and Mysuru in southern Karnataka over releasing Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.
Two civilians have lost their lives in the violence since Monday.
Centre Rushes Additional 700 Riot Control Personnel to Karnataka
An additional 700 riot control police personnel have been rushed to Karnataka to tackle the violent protests across the state.
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been sent to the violence-prone areas of Karnataka to assist the local administration to ensure peace, official sources said. With this, a total of 1,700 paramilitary personnel have been deployed in violence-hit areas of Karnataka for maintaining law and order.
Karnataka Has Been Facing Injustice for Long Time: Siddaramaiah
Addressing a press conference, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the state government is reviewing the law and order situation and has assured that normalcy will return to Karnataka in 24 hours.
The Chief Minister also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the unfortunate victim of the police firing on Monday.
Based on video evidence, the authorities have arrested 350 people for vandalism and destroying public property, revealed the Karnataka Home Minister, Dr. G Parameshwara revealed on Tuesday.
He also urged for restoring calm to the IT city of Bengaluru. He said:
Elaborating on the difficult situation his state finds itself in, Siddaramaiah added that Karnataka has been facing injustice for a long time, and it is now fighting water shortage because of the Supreme Court’s latest order to release water.
He also added that the Cauvery ruling is a difficult one to implement and the Karnataka government will seek modification of the Supreme court’s ruling.
End the Mindless Violence
Noted South Indian actor, Prakash Raj has urged for sanity in the midst of the violence that has gripped Karnataka. In a video message he said that he understands the need for justice, however he is appalled by the inhuman way in which Tamilians and Kannadigas have started attacking each other.
In a video shared through social media website, Facebook, known RJ, Balaji also urged fellow citizens to first be humans first before fighting over petty issues.
Airlines Waive Cancellation Fees For Bengaluru Flights
Reacting to the simmering violence in Bengaluru, Vistara, Jet Airways and Air India has announced plans of waiving off flight cancellation or change fees for flights to and from Bengaluru.
Vistara Airlines has waived off date and flight change fee for Bengaluru on 13th and 14th September, while Jet Airways, and Air India has waived off penalties for for 13 September.
Information and Broadcast Ministry Issues Advisory
The Centre through The Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) has issued an advisory to the media urging them to be responsible with the coverage of the protests over the Cauvery ruling.
It has asked the media to not telecast content which can inflame passions and lead to disrupting of law and order situation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also requested the media for cooperation to bring normalcy back to the troubled state of Karnataka.
India’s Silicon Valley Shut Down After Violent Protests
The Indian and foreign technology companies including global outsourcing firm Accenture have shut down offices and asked their staff to stay at home on Tuesday.
The riots have also resulted in massive losses for e-commerce giants, Flipkart and Amazon which operate out of Bengaluru.
Explaining the impact of the violence on their business, Amazon said:
Head - Supply Chain Operations at Flipkart, Neeraj Agarwal painted a grim picture for the company. He said:
FB Live: Why are Cauvery Water Wars Causing Riots in Bengaluru?
Dhanya Rajendran, Editor-in-Chief of The News Minute and The Quint’s Parul and Vikram give the on ground perspective.
Traffic Normalises
Breaking the Law Is Not a Viable Alternative: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he’s personally pained at the situation that has emerged in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as a fallout of issue of distribution of waters of Cauvery river.
QRant: Cauvery Violence Will Haunt Bengaluru For Years
This is What Bengaluru Woke up to After Monday Protests
Leaders of Both States Should Discuss the Issue: Venkaiah Naidu
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that the violence in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Cauvery waters cannot be justified on any ground.
Bengaluru Situation is Totally Calm: Police
15,000 police men and officers have been deployed all over the city. Around 270 Hoysala or patrolling vehicles are acting like police outposts in the city. Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and Quick Reaction Teams have been deployed all over the city to check violence.
Siddaramaiah Held a High Level Meeting at his Residence
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a high level meeting at his residence around 11 am on Tuesday. Senior Congress leaders were reportedly present at the meeting.
Bus Operations Resume, Except in a Few Divisions
Mandya division buses are not operating. Mysore city division buses are not being operated towards KRS and Srirangapatna.
Buses towards Tamil Nadu are not being operated from Kolar, Bangalore Central Division, Chamarajnagar and Mysore rural division.
Depot 5 and 6 of Bangalore Central Division and buses from Mysore Road Satellite Bus Station will not operate because of curfew in Byatarayanapura.
Other divisions bus operations are reportedly normal, according to KSRTC.
Kerala CM Requests Prabhu to Arrange Trains for Keralites
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to arrange two special trains to Kerala from Karnataka to bring back Keralites who are willing to come. Kerala on Monday decided to temporarily cancel bus services from and to Bengaluru, causing concern to Malayalees who want to reach home to celebrate Onam on Wednesday.
Curfew Imposed in Seven Areas; One Dead
Inspector General of Police, Umesh Kumar told reporters that a curfew has been imposed in seven police limits, namely, Rajgopal Nagar, Kamakshipalya, Vijay Nagar, Byatarayanpura, Kengeri, Magadi Road and Rajaji Nagar.
One civilian was reportedly killed and another injured in police firing in the city’s Hegganahalli area late on Monday evening.
He added that 20 paramilitary forces have been deployed to tackle the situation, out of which ten are yet to arrive. He also said that the situation was tense but in control.
A woman television journalist and her cameraman, were assaulted on Monday in the violence that broke out in various parts of the city.
Provide Security to Tamils Living in the State: Siddaramaiah
Describing the violence in Karnataka as “alarming”, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday wrote to her counterpart in the neighbouring state, Siddaramaiah, seeking protection to Tamil speaking people and their property, hours after he had made a similar plea to her.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday assured Tamil Sangam of protection for Tamils in the state in the wake of violence in the city following a Supreme Court direction to release 12000 cusecs of Cauvery water everyday for next ten days to Tamil Nadu.
Siddaramaiah also informed the Sangam leaders, who met him at his residence, that a suo motu case has been filed against culprits who had assaulted a youth, Santosh Deena, for posting comments on Cauvery issue on Facebook on 10 September.
The youth was allegedly beaten up by culprits as he had questioned Kannada film stars for protesting over Cauvery issue.
Siddaramaiah also asked the Sangam leaders to petition Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to give protection to Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu, Sangam President George Damodaran said.
The Chief Minister has directed the police to maintain law and order and provide security to Tamils living in the state, the Sangam President said.
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