Cauvery row: KRV activists hold mock funeral of TN CM Stalin, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Amidst the bandh call given by pro-Kannada outfits over Cauvery water dispute, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a pro-Kannada organisation, on Friday organised a mock funeral procession, symbolically targeting ruling Karnataka Congress MLAs and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

The protestors were seen performing mock funeral rites and kicking and dealing fisticuffs on Stalin's portrait, and burning the images of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress MLAs, opposing the Congress government's decision to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka police tried to stop the protest, but the KRV agitators led by district president Mahantesh persisted with their agitation even as police were deployed to maintain law and order in the city.

Protests are also being held all across the state including Hubballi-Dharwad, Chikmagaluru, and Shivmogga among others. They are protesting against Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC)'s order, asking Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, despite some parts of the state reeling under drought.

This is the second bandh call in a week in Bengaluru, and first across the state. The pro-Kannada activists had staged a bandh in Bengaluru on September 26. (UNI)