The ongoing agitation seeking an early solution to the Mahadayi river water dispute gained further momentum on Wednesday with the Dharwad district bandh call receiving an overwhelming response.
A Goa State transport bus was torched at the New Bus Station in Hubballi and stones were pelted at a few government offices in Navalgund. Nargund town too witnessed an undeclared bandh. Farmers’ leaders, seers and various leaders are expected to meet in Nargund on Thursday to chalk out the next course of action.
In the twin cities, protesters blocked various junctions in the morning, making it difficult for vehicles to pass through the city. Entry points to the twin cities were blocked by the police as a precautionary measure.
The blockade of National Highway 218 between Hubballi, Navalgund and Nargund continued for the second day. The Hubballi–Gadag stretch of Ankola–Gooty National Highway 63 too remained blocked. Kittur Chennamma Circle in Hubballi and Jubilee Circle in Dharwad witnessed protest marches and demonstrations till afternoon. Shops and other commercial establishments, banks, schools and colleges remained closed. There was sparse movement of autorickshaws in the morning as the association members too supported the bandh call. City bus services were suspended as a precautionary measure.
At Navalgund, Sri Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swami and former Minister Basavaraj Horatti blamed Bharatiya Janata Party State president Pralhad Joshi for the lukewarm response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the State’s plea on the Mahadayi river water dispute.
In the evening, farmers from nearby villages of Hubballi held protests outside the residences of the former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and Mr. Joshi and accused them of indulging in politics over the water row.
