Kannada organisations and farmer groups on Friday, 31 July sharply escalated their opposition to the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) directive, threatening a statewide Karnataka bandh if the state government releases any water to Tamil Nadu amid an acute drinking water shortage. The warning came as a coalition of pro-Kannada, Dalit, labour, and progressive outfits convened in Bengaluru under veteran activist Vatal Nagaraj to plan their next course of action.

Key Developments

Addressing reporters, Vatal Nagaraj issued an unequivocal demand: 'not a single drop' of Cauvery water should flow to Tamil Nadu. 'The government must make it clear that it will not release a drop of water to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka's interests must be protected at any cost. We are prepared for any protest and are even ready to send thousands of activists to jail,' he said.

The meeting, held at a private hotel in Bengaluru, saw organisers commit to ensuring a shutdown is observed across Karnataka if the government does not comply. Protests have been ongoing for three consecutive days, with demonstrators rejecting the CWRC's direction outright.

Protests at KRS Reservoir and South Karnataka

Police detained several protesters who staged demonstrations at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Mandya and at multiple locations across south Karnataka. The KRS reservoir is a flashpoint in the Cauvery dispute, as it is one of the key storage points whose release levels are monitored by the CWRC.

This is not the first time protests have erupted at the KRS site — the Cauvery water-sharing dispute has periodically triggered unrest in the region for decades, with Karnataka farmers arguing that upstream releases during deficit monsoon years leave their own crops and drinking water supply at risk.

Political Dimension: Film Ban Demand and All-Party Meeting

Kannada activist Praveen Kumar Shetty added a charged political dimension to the agitation by demanding a ban on 'Jana Nayagan', a film starring Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay. 'The government has convened an all-party meeting on August 2. If it fails to ban the movie, we will have to take up the task ourselves. All Kannada organisations will come together and announce the date for the bandh,' he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to hold firm. 'We do not have sufficient water even for drinking purposes; the Chief Minister must stand with Karnataka. The people of the state will decide if he acts otherwise,' he said.

Congress Pushes Back on BJP, Urges Peace

Congress MLA Ganiga Ravi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the issue and called on all stakeholders to attend the all-party meeting scheduled for Sunday, 3 August. 'The BJP should stop political drama and attend the all-party meeting. Karnataka is part of a federal system, and the government has already stated that water will not be released. We must now await the Supreme Court's view on the matter,' Ravi said. He also appealed to farmers and activists to refrain from road blockades and maintain peace.

What Happens Next

The all-party meeting on 2 August will be a critical test of the Karnataka government's position. With the Supreme Court expected to weigh in and the CWRC directive still in force, the state faces pressure from multiple directions — legal, political, and on the streets. The bandh date, if announced, would mark a significant escalation in what is already one of India's most enduring inter-state water disputes.