With the violent situation in Bengaluru refusing to simmer down over the Cauvery river issue, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted that he had no choice but to comply with the Supreme Court's order to provide water to Tamil Nadu, adding that he has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and will probably meet with him tomorrow.
Addressing a press conference here after the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister admitted that he was having a tough time in following the apex court's order as the state was facing water shortage, but admitting that he has no choice as he respected the Constitution and the judiciary and was bound by law.
Siddaramaiah also emphasised that their inability to fulfil the September 5th order by the Supreme Court had lead to the violence on Monday.
Stating that he has asked the Prime Minister to intervene in the situation and provide respite to the state, Siddaramaiah said that he will most probably meet him tomorrow and discuss a solution to the crisis.
However, he assured that the state government will continue to provide drinking water for Bangalore, Mysore, Mandya, other Cauvery basin area.
"We have been facing injustice on the Cauvery issue for a very long time. We followed the Supreme Court's order for six days straight and we pleaded them to revise the order as we can't release 15,000 cusecs for 10 days. Despite all difficulty, it will be impossible for us to condemn or reject the order," he said.
Asserting that they have had to deal with the situation arising out of it, the Chief Minister added that his government has had to implement in the executive what judiciary has directed.
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Talking about the action taken on protestors and vandals who have been on a rampage across the city, state Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that based on the evidence provided by the media and the police, 315 arrests have been made so far and that additional troops have been deployed keeping law and order in mind.
Siddaramaiah reiterated his appeal to the protestors to maintain calm and not cause any more damage to public property.
"People should not take law into their own hands. Violence is not a solution to any problem. We have to maintain peace and tranquillity in the society. In sensitive areas where Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam and Bakr Eid are being celebrated we have deployed security forces," he said.
He also announced Rs.10 lakhs to the family of the deceased who was killed in police firing during the protests.
Assuring full security to all linguistic minorities and people from other states, Siddaramaiah appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government to safeguard all Kannadigas in the state as well.
One person was killed and another injured in police firing in Bengaluru yesterday after the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka for release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Violence rocked Bengaluru, as about 30 vehicles from Tamil Nadu were torched, prompting Siddaramaiah-led government to issue prohibitory orders in the IT city, besides shutting metro rail operations, schools, colleges and some offices.
Retaliatory violence also erupted in Tamil Nadu as groups hurled bombs at Chennai's New Woodlands Hotel and attacked seven Karnataka buses in Rameswaram.
About 15,000 cops were deployed across the IT city with focus in areas where Tamils live in large numbers.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday assured full assistance to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments to deal with the current state of violence.
Describing the violence in Karnataka as "alarming", Siddaramaiah wrote to his Tamil Nadu counterpart J. Jayalalithaa to ensure that the perpetrators of the violence are brought to book.