Vatal Nagaraj calls for Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border closure

Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj has called for a blockade at the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border in Attibele, scheduled for August 10 at 11 am. The protest is a precursor to a statewide bandh planned for August 13 regarding the ongoing Cauvery water crisis.

Activists intend to stop vehicles traveling between the two states. Nagaraj has demanded action on several regional issues, including the Mekedatu, Mahadayi, and Kalasa-Bandhuri projects. He further threatened to block the entry of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay into Karnataka or prevent his aircraft from landing if the Chief Minister does not support the construction of the Mekedatu balancing reservoir.

More than 2,000 pro-Kannada organizations have reportedly extended support to the August 13 bandh. The proposed actions occur amidst long-standing political disputes over water rights and the impact of the Mekedatu project on Tamil Nadu's water share.