Bengaluru, July 31 -- The Cauvery water dispute intensified sharply in Karnataka on Friday, with pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations calling for a statewide bandh on August 13, the BJP escalating its agitation at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam, and authorities deploying over 1,500 police personnel in Mandya to prevent any untoward incidents.
The developments came a day after the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu, triggering widespread protests across the state.
Announcing the bandh, Federation of Pro-Kannada Organisations president Vatal Nagaraj said the dawn-to-dusk shutdown from 6 am to 6 pm on August 13 would be an "Akhanda Karnataka Bandh" to safeguar...