BENGALURU: The head of Kannada Okkoota, Vatal Nagaraj, held incidents in Tamil Nadu, where Kannadigas were assaulted, responsible for Monday’s violence in Bengaluru and other parts of the state.
Mr Nagaraj told Deccan Chronicle, “Over the last eight days, the protests were peaceful. Even during Karnataka Bandh on Friday, no untoward incident was reported. We do not want any violent protests and believe in getting justice through peaceful agitation, and we were doing it. But Monday’s incidents were triggered by a video in which a Kannadiga was assaulted by Tamilians in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. This video instigated Kannadigas and now protests have gone beyond just organisations. At least now, the Tamil Nadu government should understand the seriousness of the issue and give adequate security to Kannadigas living there.”
Further, he said that the Supreme Court’s order on Monday was also one of the reasons for the agitation getting violent. “It is unfortunate that the SC has not understood our plight and issued orders without knowing the ground reality. We are against the order. We will obstruct movement of trains in protest against the order on Thursday. However, we will not resort to any other bandh that would hamper normal life, as of now.”
T.A. Narayana Gowda, President, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, clarified that the protests were against the Supreme Court order and the Tamil Nadu government, and not against any innocent Tamilians living in Karnataka. “How can the protest, which was peaceful all these days, turn violent overnight? The incident where Kannadigas were assaulted in Tamil Nadu instigated Kannadigas. Monday’s incidents are an example of how protests could turn violent if public takes law into their hands.”
Police vehicles damaged
Friday’s Cauvery bandh appeared to be the lull before the storm as Monday saw the city erupt in violence over the water dispute with Tamil Nadu. A Hoysalal patrol vehicle and a Cheetah bike were set ablaze in Hegganahalli. Panic gripped commuters as every junction of the city, especially on Mysore Road near Nayandahalli and Byatrayanapura, saw groups of agitators searching for Tamil Nadu vehicles to pounce on. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, the city police called in additional forces and deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Kengeri, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Nayandahalli, yatrayanapura, City Market and other areas. But tension escalated as protestors who had vandalised buses, lorries, canters, and cars earlier in the day, went ahead and torched them in Kengeri, Rajagopalnagar, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Nayandahalli, eepanjalinagar, Byatrayanapura, Kumaraswamy Layout, Kanakapura Road, Hosur Road and NICE Road.
