Agitating farmers and activists from pro-Kannada outfits on 6 September blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway as protests intensified in the wake of the Supreme Court directive to Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
After the SC directed Karnataka government to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 10 days, farmers and activists from pro-Kannada outfits protested in various parts of Karnataka against the apex court's directive.
Also Read: 700 buses off road, protests and bandh in Karnataka over Cauvery water release
Schools and colleges in Mandya district have been ordered to remain close for two days as the protests have aggravated in the district with Jai Karnatak activists vandalising PWD office against the SC order.
WATCH: Jai Karnataka activists vandalize PWD office in Mandya protesting against SC order on Cauvery water matter pic.twitter.com/wxybbjjdaC
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 6, 2016
Lawyers and farmers in Mandya have also joined the protests, raising slogans against the directive and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
Also Read: Cauvery water row: Supreme Court tells Karnataka to consider releasing water to Tamil Nadu
Cauvery water issue: Protest against Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa in Mandya (Karnataka). pic.twitter.com/dR0Z9G8xo1
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 6, 2016
Cauvery water issue: Lawyers in Karnataka's Mandya protest against Supreme Court order. pic.twitter.com/iopLZIATvz
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 6, 2016
TB Jaychandra, Karnataka Law Minister has also appealed to people to keep calm and not take the law in their hands.
Cauvery issue: Farmers protest in Maddur, attempt to block Mysuru-Bengaluru highway #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/ed9QGNb2uB
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 6, 2016
According to a report in the Deccan Chronicle, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened a meeting of legislature leaders and MPs in Bengaluru to discuss the issue.
Earlier, buses travelling between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were blocked in Tamil Nadu. For safety, the Karnataka government has pulled off 700 of its buses travelling from Bengaluru and Mysuru to Tamil Nadu and Kerala, NDTV reported. Schools and colleges in the district have been closed for the day.
The farmers' leader also warned the government that it would face strong agitation if water was released to Tamil Nadu.
According to a report in the Deccan Chronicle, protests broke out in other parts of the state including Chamrajnagar, Mysuru and Hubballi. 'Karnataka Okkuta', an outfit led by Vatal Nagaraj, called for a 'Karnataka bandh' on 9 September.