Siddaramaiah assures protection to Tamils in Karnataka

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu till 20 September.

Last week, Karnataka Government had made a decision to release water of Cauvery river, as in the wake of Supreme court order, protests intensified in the state and farmers blocked the Bengaluru – Mysuru highway.

The Press Trust of India news agency said police gunfire killed one protester and wounded another in India’s information technology hub of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state, where rampaging mobs set fire to dozens of buses, trucks and cars and attacked shops and businesses.

The counsels for the Karnataka government argued that Tamil Nadu has been complaining about a water crisis that does not exist, ANI reported.

Violent protests by pro-Kannada activists over the Cauvery Waters issue brought the city of Bengaluru to a grinding halt.

In Chennai, six petrol bombs were hurled at a Kannadiga restaurant on Monday.

The top court has softened its stance and instructed the Siddaramaiah government to provide 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. “We will again ask the court to modify its order, as we not in a position to release any more water due to the distress situation in the state”, asserted Parameshwar.

In Thanjavur, a Cauvery delta district, President of the Coordination Committee of Tamil Nadu All Farmers Associations P R Pandian welcomed the Supreme Court’s order that water should be released to Tamil Nadu till September 20.

He said that while seeking the release of Cauvery water during the September 5 hearing, Tamil Nadu had said that if Karnataka doesn’t release water then it would “absolutely damage” the “summer crop” leading to an “unacceptable plight” of the farmers.

Young men crammed into mini-buses and rickshaws were seen shouting slogans and waving the red and yellow flag of Karnataka state.

The court refused to make any more changes after Karnataka argued that it would end up giving more water than it had originally been asked to.

“According to reports received, the violence has escalated and a large number of vehicles, including more than 40 buses, 45 lorries and many other vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu number plates have been burnt and damaged”, she said in a letter to Siddaramaiah. Metro services were also briefly suspended in the city.