As I walked to and from my daughter’s home (J P Nagar 3rd Phase to and fromJayanagar 4th T Block) I noticed the following good citizens of the city and state:

Several young men on two-wheelers with yellow-and-red Karnataka flags, yelling, “bEkE bEku! nyAyA bEku!” They stopped near me to re-group. I talked to one of them (indeed, a foolhardy thing to do)…and asked, “nyAyA (justice) for what?” The young man said, “We’ve been told to go around the area, saying this.” Not even the pretence of understanding what the issue is.

A group of men sitting under the Karnataka flag opposite Ragigudda SLV darshini. They were yelling across to the people closing the restaurant, to provide them with coffee. “We know you have the milk, better give it to us,” they shouted. The men in the darshini ignored them as they pulled in the tables and started pulling down the shutters.

Fear-ridden people, scurrying to get home. Many two-wheeler riders had their heads to one side as they spoke into their mobiles, tucked into their necks as they rode. Latest updates from home, no doubt.

Vegetable sellers sitting disconsolately behind their carts. One enterprising guy was selling vegetables from a small van in the lane parallel to the Ragigudda Temple (“D” Cross). After hearing that cucumber was Rs.60 a kg, I walked on.

Why are the goons so free from accountability? Why do we close our shops and trade and commerce out of fear of these people? I have no easy answers. But what I saw today was certainly no participation in, or empathy with, farmer’s woes about Kaveri water.