 "India's tech hub shuts for 2nd time in a week over Cauvery water dispute")
Bengaluru, India's technology hub came to a halt on Monday, second time in a week, after goons targeted property and vehicles of Tamil Nadu people, reminding locals of targeted attacks on Tamilians 25 years ago over the Cauvery river water dispute. The violence has hit the city's reputation as a safe destination for businesses globally.
The Congress-led Siddaramaiah government failed in controlling unruly mobs across many parts of the city. The mob downed shutters of offices and shops, brought public transport and Metro to halt, besides burning over 100 TN registered vehicles, including a fleet of 40 luxury buses of KPN travels, which has services between the two states. Educational institutions in some parts were also shut.
The tech hub contributes to nearly a third of India's software exports of $ 108 billion and has emerged as the top destination for technology talent among global companies.
The fallout of the frenzy became evident after the US government issued an advisory to its citizens to keep away from the "areas of demonstrations or and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations."
The violence in Bengaluru, Mandya and Mysuru - the three districts that use Cauvery water, which the government claimed was spontaneous, came on a day when the Supreme Court rapped Karnataka of citing "agitation, spontaneity or galvanised riot" for seeking relief from its earlier order to release water from Cauvery to the neighbouring state. Karnataka's reservoirs have less than 50 per cent of its capacity due to weak monsoon in the catchment areas of Kodagu and Kerala.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara admitted that the state was not prepared - both on ground and on social media, to handle the violence and rumour mongering that erupted following the Supreme Court directive to release water till 20 September. While the quantum has reduced to 12,000 cusecs from 15,000 cusecs, the state has to comply its orders for an extra five days as against its earlier directive.#WATCH: Protesters set more than 20 buses on fire in #Bengaluru's KPN bus depot #CauveryProtests pic.twitter.com/WBby0fuA8o
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016
"We have taken precautions and put in additional security in sensitive locations, where Tamil population and Tamil establishments are there," said Parameshwara late evening. "Social media is still a technology is so complicated, somewhere these things are uploaded overseas. It is very difficult to monitor this."
Monday's targeted violence brought back memories of the anti-Tamil riots in 1991 that forced thousands of Tamil speaking people flee from Bengaluru. The December violence during the Congress led S Bangarappa government was prompted by a Supreme Court directive to Karnataka to comply with the Cauvery river Tribunal order.
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Parameshwara claimed that the police have detained 200 people for indulging in violence; imposed prohibitary orders and the state has sought 10 additional companies of paramilitary forces.
Earlier in the day, a few tourist vehicles from Karnataka were vandalised in Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. Police said they had arrested the perpetrators.
The Supreme Court came down heavily on Karnataka questioning the logic of the appeal citing agitation and violence.
News agency Press Trust of India, quoted the bench as saying: "If we are allowed to say then we must say that the tone and tenor of the application is absolutely disturbing and to say the least, totally depricable...That apart the application for modification contain certain averment which follow the tenor or similar language which cannot be conceived of in a court of law seeking modification of an order."
"Agitation, spontaneity or galvanised riot or any kind of catalystic component can never form the foundation for seeking modification of an order," Press Trust of India quoted the bench as saying. "An order of this court has to be complied by all the concerned and it is the obligation of the executive to ensure that the orders are complied in letter and spirit."
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa that the state has taken precaution to protect Tamil speaking population and expected her to protect Kannada speaking people in her state.