Cauvery issue: BJP pledges support to Pondy bandh on Sept 16

Puducherry: The Puducherry unit of the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) today announced its support to the bandh called by several tamil outfits here, tomorrow, to condemn the violence against Tamils in Karnataka in the wake of Cauvery row. "The BJP will extend its support to the bandh being observed in the Union Territory tomorrow to condemn the against the violence against Tamils in Karnataka," President of the Puducherry unit of BJP V Saminathan in a release said. "The Congress government in Karnataka is ignoring and dishonouring the Supreme court order to release water to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry," he said. More than 30 Tamil fringe outfits including Tamizhar Desiya Iyyakkam, Makkal Vazhuvurimai Iyakkam and Tamizhaga Makkal Vazhuvurimai Katchi had announced a 12-hour bandh in Puducherry on September 16 to condemn the violence against Tamils in Karnataka. Protests by Kannada groups had turned violent on Monday with two persons getting killed in police action, including one in firing, in Bengaluru. Vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration were also torched and damaged even as commercial establishments owned by Tamils were targeted in Karnataka. In Tamil Nadu, restaurants owned by Kannadigas and vehicles bearing Karnataka registration were attacked by fringe outfits in some places on September 12.