 "Cauvery row: Venkaiah Naidu appeals for peace, asks media to show restraint")
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday appealed for calm and peace in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu following violence over the Cauvery water dispute and urged the media to play a constructive role while reporting on the prevailing situation in both states.
"The violence in the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu further to the direction of the Supreme Court on release of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu is quite disturbing. Such violence can't be justified on any ground and particularly after the direction of the highest court of the country," Naidu said.
He said such violence and destruction of property negates the rule of law and ultimately impacts the life of a common man.
"Water is no doubt a sensitive and emotive issue and particularly, in times of scarcity. It is in the fitness of things that such issues are resolved through discussions among the concerned parties. The Cauvery Waters issue is sub-judice and the Supreme Court has given a direction after listening to both the states," he added.
Naidu advocated that the leadership of both states should come out with a way forward and hold dialogue to sort out the tension.
"A large number of people from each other state live in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and have been making significant contribution to the development of the state of their choice of living. They should not be made to feel insecure as it is the Constitutional right of every citizen to live in a place of choice in the country," he added.
Naidu said violence and counter-violence would only further complicate the matter and is not in the interest of any state.
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"Both the state governments should take effective measures to check the violence immediately. I fervently appeal to the people of both the states to immediately stop indulging in violence and ensure peace and normalcy. I also appeal to both the state governments and leaders of political parties to take necessary effective measures to stop violence and ensure protection to the people from other state," he added.
Naidu said that he has already urged the media to exercise restraint while reporting on the law and order situation in both states.
"Highlighting such incidents visually and otherwise might incite further violence. I hope media would play a constructive role in ensuring peace and normalcy in both the states," he added.
Following the ongoing unrest in Bengaluru over the Cauvery water sharing row, central forces have been deployed to assist the city police to maintain law and order.
The Hyderabad Police has issued an advisory to all the cable TV channels and network operators over protests in Bengaluru and said no program shall be transmitted in the cable service which is likely to incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday assured full assistance to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments to deal with the current state of violence that is prevailing in both the states over the Cauvery water issue.
Singh has assured assistance to both Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and her Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah to tackle the present state of unrest.
In wake of the protests erupting over the Cauvery issue, Jayalalithaa has written to Siddaramaiah, requesting him to ensure safety and security of Tamilians residing in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah has also appealed for peace and has written to his counterpart in Tamil Nadu, urging her to ensure the safety of Kannada speaking people living in the state. He also urged the Tamil Nadu authorities to take action against those indulging in violence.
In Karnataka, one person was killed and another injured in police firing in Bengaluru on Monday.
With protests escalating in the wake of Cauvery water dispute that escalated between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the Bengaluru Police on Monday imposed Section 144 of the CRPC, meaning that no more than five people will be allowed to gather in public places in the city.
The protesters targeted vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration numbers and set them on fire. They also vandalised trucks near Hubli bypass in Karnataka.
Modifying its September 5 order, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Karnataka Government to release to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water every day to Tamil Nadu till September 20.
The apex court had earlier directed the Karnataka Government to release of 15,000 cusecs of water for 10 days as immediate relief to farmers in Tamil Nadu.