In a fervent display of dissent, BJP leaders staged a protest against the Karnataka government’s actions concerning the release of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu. The protest, held in Bengaluru on Wednesday, saw demonstrators voicing their concerns with slogans targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, labelling them as agents of Tamil Nadu and DMK.
Former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa joined the fray by initiating a sit-in protest against the Karnataka government’s handling of the Cauvery water-sharing issue. This demonstration took place near the Gandhi statue in Bengaluru and garnered significant attention.
BS Yediyurappa, a prominent BJP leader, expressed his concerns, stating, “Our CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, they must understand that they should not act as agents for Tamil Nadu. They must acknowledge the factual situation. In nearly all our reservoirs, there is an acute water shortage, insufficient even for drinking purposes… The Prime Minister cannot intervene in this matter; it is in the hands of the Supreme Court. It is not feasible for him to interfere…”
He further emphasized that due to the behaviour of CM Siddaramaiah and Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar, Karnataka was grappling with the ongoing crisis.
Tejasvi Surya, BJP Member of Parliament from Bangalore South, called for a halt to the release of water to Tamil Nadu, asserting that the Karnataka government had failed to provide comprehensive information to the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). Surya emphasized that shifting blame to the central government was not a viable solution, as the central officials had fulfilled their responsibilities. He stated, “Now it is in the hands of the authorities and the Supreme Court.”
BJP MLA B Y Vijayendra Yediyurappa criticized the current Congress government, stating that it had not taken the Cauvery issue seriously and had failed to meet its responsibilities. He argued that there was no need for the Prime Minister to intervene, as the issue was primarily a result of the state government’s shortcomings.
In response to the BJP protests, Karnataka State Home Minister G Parmeshwara expressed confidence in the state government’s ability to handle the matter. He remarked, “As a government, we have certain responsibilities. Let them engage in politics regarding the Cauvery issue. The government will take care of our farmers.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the state’s intention to challenge the order of the Cauvery Water Management Authority in the Supreme Court. He explained, “The Cauvery Regulatory Committee (CWRC) has ordered the release of 3000 cusecs of water. I have already consulted with our legal experts, and they have advised us to challenge this order in the Supreme Court. We will indeed challenge it because we do not have the water to release to Tamil Nadu.”
The CWRC had initially ordered the Karnataka government to release 5000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu, starting from September 28 to October 15, 2023. This order was subsequently revised to 3000 cusecs.
Also Read: H.D. Kumaraswamy Joins BJP Rally in Protesting Cauvery Water Release
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