Dear K’taka Your Need is Genuine But Violence is a Bad ‘Idea’

While protesters rule the streets, evidence suggests that bandhs have done more damage than good for Karnataka.

It began as a normal Monday, but quickly degenerated into a free-for-all rioting, as protestors roamed the city forcing an undeclared bandh in Bengaluru.

Monday saw a spell of violence, but the frenzy had set in long before. When a 21-year-old young man was thrashed, kicked, abused and slapped for questioning the role of film stars in solving a century-old dispute.

One of the most prominent Indian entrepreneurs, a Bangalorean and founder of Bio-con limited, Kiran Majumdar Shaw faced backlash for a tweet against the total Karnataka Bandh. Kannada Actress and ex-MP Ramya was trolled and abused on Twitter for not protesting against Tamil Nadu. Both Ramya and Kiran Majumdar Shaw issued clarifications.

Water is a basic need and a farmer’s interest seeks highest priority, but evidence suggests that bandhs and public hysteria has done more damage than good to the cause of Karnataka.

Can We Let the Experts Talk Please?

Thanks to bandhs, protests and film star frenzy, the Cauvery issue has never seen reasonable guidance with informed voices leading the front.

The Cauvery issue has been studied and discussed by the highest of courts, water experts and bureaucrats in the last 100 years. The solutions included options like involving traditional water warriors, changing crop patterns even inter-linking of adjoining rivers. These suggestions have never seen the light; since the state governments never talk, the experts’ advice dies down in public hysteria.

Grow up, It’s Just a Facebook Post!

Beating a 21 year old Tamil guy for an ‘anti-Karnataka’ Facebook post will not solve Karnataka’s water crisis, and trolling won’t ensure Supreme Court orders in favour of a ‘suffering state.’ If Facebook posts can solve a century old dispute, lets start with solving Kashmir crisis which is bound to save the entire sub-continent.

The hate-crimes and hate violence will only ensure that less and less people come to Karnataka for business, work and investment!

Politics is the Mother of Controversy?

Politicians have always used Cauvery dispute for political mileage. With her popularity nosediving and elections round the corner, in July 1993, Jayalalitha observed an 80-hour-long fast on the Marina beach ‘to get water for Tamil Nadu.’

As her health deteriorated and Chennai came to a standstill, Centre got into action forcing Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to form a committee. A solution devised with lightening speed to control the frenzy, turned obsolete even more quickly. The committee has not been able to streamline things as basic gathering data on water flow in the river.

In 2016, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is trying to ride the Cauvery issue to woo the farmers. Many believe this is his only chance to repair the ‘anti-farmer image’ created after his government’s mis-handling of farmer suicides in Karnataka.

Six Shutdowns in Six Months and Counting...

Karnataka has no water and if you hamper my day-today business by declaring bandhs every second day, I will soon have no food either. In last six months Karnataka has seen five to six major shutdowns, calls for protest and strikes.

For the week of 25-30 July when a three-day long BMTC-KSRTC strike was followed by protests and bandh over the Mahadayi issue, single day bank strike and the incessant rains that crippled transport and commuting, Bengaluru suffered a loss of Rs 8000 to Rs 9000 crore. The violence on Monday will have much bigger financial, social and political impact.

Misgiuded Kannada Identity

Bikers on road shouting slogans and driving zig-zag. Over speeding cars with Karnataka flags, demanding loyalty out of everybody. Public announcements to ask people to shut down shops and not travel. All this coupled with threats and warnings to those who will not comply.

A Bandh on the gun-point cannot be a celebration of support. If Karnataka suffers it’s people are bound to suffer and each of us wants the best solution to the Cauvery issue, but letting the anti-social elements rule the city is as scary as the thought of no water. More so, every time Karnataka government has refused to abide by the court order, it has backfired and damaged the legal position of the state.