Normal life is unlikely to be affected on Thursday (August 13) despite the bandh call given by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj against the directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, as most organisations have extended only moral support to the call.
The bandh, scheduled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., is unlikely to affect public or private transport, shops and commercial establishments, hotels or eateries. Schools and offices are also expected to function as usual. Essential services such as healthcare, grocery stores, pharmacies and banks are expected to remain functional. Transport services are also likely to operate normally, as autorickshaw and cab unions have extended only moral support to the bandh.
On Wednesday, Mr. Nagaraj said that the Kannada Okkoota had decided to go ahead with the bandh and that he would not call it off. He also said they would carry out a rally from Town Hall to Freedom Park at 11 a.m.
“From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the bandh will be effective. Mandya will be entirely shut down, and complete support will be received in Hubballi, Dharwad, Raichur and Ballari,” he said.
While Mr. Nagaraj had initially said that the bandh in the State was in protest against the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) directive to release water to Tamil Nadu, he clarified on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) that the bandh was also intended to highlight all major irrigation and development issues, including the Kalasa-Banduri and Mekedatu projects.
As a precursor to the event, Mr. Nagaraj’s group held a demonstration with “brooms” at Majestic Bus Stand on August 12 before being escorted away by the police.
Meanwhile, Kannada outfit Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), which has been at the forefront of several protests in the state, has said that it is not extending support to the bandh. Dinesh Kumar, organising secretary of KRV, said the bandh would not solve the issue, but a legal battle would, which the government was pursuing.
Rudramurthy of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union and Tanveer Pasha of OTU both told The Hindu said they were only extending moral support to the bandh, as stopping operations would disrupt the lives of lakhs of people.
Emphasising that they support the State’s lawful efforts to secure Karnataka’s rightful share of water for drinking and irrigation purposes, K. Radhakrishna Holla, president of the Karnataka State Travel Operators Association, said they were not extending support to the bandh, but only moral support to the cause.
“Our transport, tourism and service sectors are directly connected with the daily needs of the public. In an internationally recognised city like Bengaluru, continuity of transport, tourism, hospitality, business and other essential services is extremely important,” he said.
Educational institutions to remain open
Meanwhile, private schools, including those affiliated with the Karnataka Associated Management of Schools (KAMS), have withdrawn their earlier advisory regarding the closure of schools in connection with the ‘Cauvery Bandh’, citing the loss of academic days.
“As a symbolic gesture of solidarity, school management representatives, teaching staff and non-teaching staff may wear a black ribbon or black strip on the day of the bandh without disrupting academic activities,” said D. Shashikumar, general secretary, KAMS.
P.C. Rao of the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association also said that the association was extending only moral support, citing food as an essential service.
Police warn against bandh
Bengaluru police have warned against forced shutdowns and road blockades. In a statement, the police said several organisations had called for the bandh, while others had informed the Bengaluru City Police that they were not supporting it. The police said citizens have the democratic and fundamental right to express their views and hold peaceful protests within the framework of the law. However, they stressed that the rights of those who do not wish to participate must also be respected.
“No individual or organisation should force, threaten or compel anyone to participate in the bandh,” the police said, warning against the forced closure of shops, establishments and institutions, obstruction of traffic, and compelling people to participate in protests against their will.
Precautionary security arrangements have been made across Bengaluru, with adequate police deployment, patrolling and security measures at important and sensitive locations.
Published – August 12, 2026 11:11 pm IST
