K'taka CM Siddaramaiah turns to political rivals for help; BJP skips all-party meet
After a day of political drama and meetings, the Karnataka government has decided not to release water to the Tamil Nadu against the Supreme Court verdict that directed the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water per day till September 27. The decision came after a series of state cabinet meetings and an all-party meet on Wednesday.
Karnataka water resources minister, MB Patil had earlier indicated that the state is not in a position to release further water to Tamil Nadu as the water level in the reservoirs had reduced due to release of water to Tamil Nadu.
Facing crisis over the SC's verdict, the chief minister Siddaramaiah turned to his political rivals including Janata Dal (Secular) and BJP for seeking an immediate solution.
Siddaramaiah met former Prime Minister and JD(S) Supremo, HD Deve Gowda in the latter's residence in Bengaluru on Wednesday to decide over the Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu.
Sources said that Deve Gowda has put his weight behind Siddaramaiah government and told him not to release any more water to Tamil Nadu. Gowda earlier met PM Modi and apprised him of the water crisis in Karanataka.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) decided to boycott the all-party meeting, which was called on Wednesday evening.
Former Karnataka chief minister and State BJP President BS Yeddyurupa said that all the party leaders have been directed not to attend the Wednesday meet.
The BJP leader said that the decision to boycott an all-party meet was taken because the state government has failed to take a concrete decision.
"I insist CM to take a clear stand on Cauvery issue, we are with him if he decides to take firm decision and stop further release of water to Tamil Nadu. BJP has instead demanded a special Assembly session to be held over the issue," Yeddyurappa tweeted.
Official sources said that a special assembly session over the Cauvery water row is likely to be held on Saturday. On Tuesday, chief minister Siddaramaiah said that in the face of acute water shortage in Karnataka, the SC order was 'unimplementable'.
In Mandya district, which is the hotbed of Cauvery agitation, the MP, CS Puttaraju from JD(S) resigned by submitting his resignation to Lok Sabha speaker, Sumitra Mahajan through deputy commissioner, Mandya against the SC's Cauvery verdict. Puttaraju told the reporters that the decision to hand over the Krishnaraja Sagar dam to Cauvery management board was a wrong one and that he cannot stand against the farmers.
Following Puttaraju's decision, the local MLA of the Mandya constituency along with several JD(S) MLA's have also threatened to resign if the water is released to Tamil Nadu.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 are still in place in Mandya and Bengaluru to prevent any incidents of violence. Pro-Kannada activists earlier staged sit-in demonstrations outside the Vidhan Soudha (the official secretariat) and the CM's residence in Bengaluru.
Special assembly session likely on Saturday
Official sources said that a special assembly session over the Cauvery water row is likely to be held on Saturday. On Tuesday, chief minister Siddaramaiah said that in the face of acute water shortage in Karnataka, the SC order was 'unimplementable'.
In Mandya district, which is the hotbed of Cauvery agitation, the MP, CS Puttaraju from JD(S) resigned by submitting his resignation to Lok Sabha speaker, Sumitra Mahajan through deputy commissioner, Mandya against the SC's Cauvery verdict. Puttaraju told the reporters that the decision to hand over the Krishnaraja Sagar dam to Cauvery management board was a wrong one and that he cannot stand against the farmers.
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