Karnataka Bandh Disrupts Bengaluru Airport Operations; Activists Arrested Over Cauvery Water Issue

In the midst of a Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada organizations protesting the Cauvery water issue, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport witnessed disruptions today as authorities canceled the departure and arrival of 44 flights. The chaos ensued as five activists attempted to stage a protest inside the airport premises, leading to their arrest.

The canceled flights included routes to major metro cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai, causing inconvenience to numerous passengers. Sources confirm that the activists had purchased tickets for Indigo Flight 7731 and entered the airport premises at 9:50 a.m. with the intention of staging a protest near the flight’s departure gate. Airport authorities swiftly apprehended them before they could proceed with their demonstration. While the protesters were taken into custody, an official statement from the police department is pending.

Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has called upon the state government to release the Kannada activists detained during the protests promptly. He emphasized the importance of unity within the state when it comes to issues concerning Karnataka’s interests. “The integrity and unity of the state should be a warning bell to the neighboring states,” he stated, without explicitly mentioning Tamil Nadu. Kumaraswamy reiterated that the sentiments of the Kannada people should be respected and not disregarded.

“We extend our total support to the bandh from JD(S). The agitation for Cauvery has become inevitable under the present circumstances. The government in Karnataka is practicing appeasement politics. Politics should not overshadow the Cauvery issue,” Kumaraswamy stressed. He also noted that despite favorable rainfall conditions and predictions in Tamil Nadu, the water dispute persists, while the Karnataka government does not take a strong stance in favor of its people.

As part of their protest, agitators publicly ridiculed and torched effigies representing the 28 MPs from Karnataka who have allegedly not spoken up for the state’s interests regarding the Cauvery issue. Among these MPs, 25 belong to the BJP, one each to JD(S) and Congress, while another is an independent candidate currently supporting the BJP. The ongoing tension surrounding the Cauvery water allocation remains a contentious issue in the region.