Bengaluru, Feb 4: Activists fighting for Mahadayi water held two parallel protests at Freedom Park to bring the issue to the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.
Jana Samanyara Paksha led by writer Champa and pro-Kannada organisations led by Vatal Nagaraj demanded the intervention of the Prime Minister to seek an early solution to the Mahadayi dispute.
"We have abided by the court ruling and withdrawn the bandh call. But we won't sit quietly till the PM intervenes. He can't ignore such a burning issue when he is visiting the state," Vatal Nagaraj said, warning that PM's silence on the issue will force them to intensify their protest.
Champa said it was surprising that the Prime Minister, who speaks on minor issues in his Mann Ki Bath address, chooses to ignore an issue that has put lakhs of people in dire straits.
"We hope that he will have something to say about the issue at his rally today. No political party is coming forward to rescue the people who are suffering without water. The issue needs to be resolved soon," he said.
Highway jammed
Hundreds of vehicles headed for BJP's Parivartana Rally, jammed the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway near Ramanagaram.
Police are struggling to decongest the chock-o-block traffic bound for Palace Grounds in Bengaluru, and smoothen the flow.
Vehicles, mostly cars, have piled up bumper-to-bumper for kilometers and traffic is inching at a snail's pace.
Food arrangements
Food arrangements had been made for the rally attendees from south Karnataka like Mysuru, Madikeri, Mangaluru and several other places, at the Janapada Loka museum junction. They were served tomato bath and kesari bath by the organisers.
Police force
A 13,000-strong police force has been deployed to ensure security and maintain law and order during PM’s visit.
While law and order is being supervised by Additional Commissioner of Police B.K. Singh, traffic management is being taken care by Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R. Hithendra, city Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar said.
The police have installed CCTV cameras at the venue and are conducting verification drills at hotels and lodges, and monitoring movements at bus stands, the international airport, and railway stations. This was part of the standard operating procedure from Saturday, the Police Commissioner added.
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