Bengaluru

Vatal Nagaraj

Karnataka

Mahadayi

Narendra Modi

farmers

Modi

Bandh advanced

Embarrassment to the state BJP

Parivarthana Yatra

Amit Shah

Bengalureans will have to brace for the bandhs on Jan 25 and Feb 4will see two dawn-to-dusk bandhs in 10 days, one on January 25 and another on February 4.The Confederation of Pro-Kannada Organisations presidenthas called for abandh on January 25 to urge the Centre to solve thewater dispute at the earliest. The federation has called a Bengaluru bandh on February 4 over the issue when Prime Ministerwill visit Bengaluru to take part in the valedictory of state BJP’s Parivartan Yatra.During a press meet by Vatal Nagaraj at Hubballi on Sunday,agitating for Mahadayi water took him to task, asking him how he could take an unilateral call for Karnataka bandh without even consulting the farmers agitating for Mahadayi water. The issue was sorted out and the farmes came to an agreement with Nagaraj, after which the agitators and Nagaraj held a joint press meet.Farmers placed the condition that Bengaluru bandh be called on February 4 whenis in the city. The state government is likely to indirectly extend its full support to the bandh.Bengalureans, however, expressed unhappiness over the bandhs. Dr Vikram Narayan, member of I-Change Bengaluru, said, “Such bandhs do not help the common people or those who are agitating for Mahadayi water.”An office bearer of Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association said, “We will extend support for the Karnataka bandh call for the farmers’ cause.The Karnataka bandh has been advanced to January 25 as there are continuous holidays on the weekends. The bandh was earlier scheduled for January 27.It will be a real challenge for the state BJP leaders, who had received flak from their bosses for the weak turnout at the inauguration ofattended by BJP national presidenton November 2 in Bengaluru.When the Prime Minister arrives on February 4, the party will have to put up with the bandh and the plan to embarrass the party. The party would be under greater pressure to ensure the event is a grand success and that the PM’s meet has a good turnout.