Briefing the media after the emergency Cabinet meeting late on Wednesday night Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a very strong position and said that the Cabinet has passed a resolution to convene an emergency joint session of both the Houses on September 23. He said till then the Cabinet has decided to defer the release of water to Tamil Nadu. The joint session will take a decision on the next course of action regarding implementing the Supreme Court’s order.
Earlier, the day after the SC verdict asking Karnataka to share 6,000 cusecs of water daily basis from its reservoir on the Cauvery basin the State witnessed hectic political activities on Wednesday. The day has seen a Cabinet meeting (in fact two Cabinet meetings) and an all party meeting to take a final decision on the issue of releasing the water to Tamil Nadu as per the directions of the apex court. BJP, the major opposition led by former Chief Minister and State president BS Yeddyurappa has decided to boycott the all party meeting called by the Government by saying it was meaningless and blamed the ruling Congress for the entire Cauvery fiasco.
Yeddyurappa said “I consider the all party meeting convened on Wednesday as a meaningless exercise and a diversionary tactic aimed at only to hoodwink the Opposition parties as well as the people of Karnataka”.
“The BJP has rightly lost faith and confidence in the Congress Government as it has repeatedly indulged in double-talk and betrayal. It is because of this reason the BJP decided to keep away from the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah on Tuesday”, he added.
Meanwhile after a gap of over a decade Chief Minister Siddaramaiah went to former Prime Minister and JDs supremo HD Deve Gowda’s residence to seek his advice on the row. Speaking to media Deve Gowda urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and reject the SC’s directives to Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water daily till September 27.
He said “the Supreme Court had overstepped its jurisdiction. Instead of restricting its decision on release of water, the apex court has gone one step ahead and had directed to form the Board. It should be rejected by the Prime Minister.”
Terming the apex court’s direction to Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water as not justifiable, Deve Gowda said Modi should intervene and give priority to solve the issue. Replying to a question, he said that “I am ready to tender resignation but who will raise the issue in the Parliament. My resignation will not solve the problem. Where is the need for formation of a Board when the original petition filed by Karnataka against Tribunal award 9 years back is yet to come up for hearing before the Supreme Court. I Have highest regard to Judiciary.”
“I am speaking as a farmer and not as senior politician or former Prime Minister. The direction to release water should have been based on the actual position, existing storage of water in the reservoirs,” he added. To another question, he said that there is no need for Siddaramaiah to resign but take bold step not to release water.
Meanwhile law Minister TB Jayachandra said Karnataka’s future course of action on the Cauvery issue will be decided only after the meeting of floor leaders of the State legislature.
The stake holders in Cauvery basin have decided to intensify their agitation if the water was released to Tamil Nadu. Prohibitory Orders under section 144 Criminal Procedure Code has been extended till September 23 in five taluks expect in KR Pet and Nagamangala according to a report from Mandya.