On Friday, several leaders from the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including B.Y. Vijayendra, were taken into preventive custody after they marched to encircle the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam in protest against the release of water from the Cauvery River to Tamil Nadu.
The BJP has warned that if the state government does not assure them that water will not be released to Tamil Nadu, they will boycott the all-party meeting called by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on August 2. Protesters, chanting slogans against the Congress government, accused it of being anti-farmer and failing to protect Karnataka’s interests.
Concerns Over Water Management
Demonstrators claimed that the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the order from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, despite Karnataka’s significant arguments. The state highlighted the lack of rainfall this monsoon and the severe drought conditions. A large number of BJP workers participated in the protest.
Key Leaders Detained
In addition to Vijayendra, other prominent figures such as R. Ashok, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Chaluvarayaswamy, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, and C.C. Ravi, a member of the Legislative Council, were also detained. Before the march, party leaders staged a sit-in near the KRS dam, with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and former MP Sumalatha Ambarish also in attendance.
Accusations Against the Government
Before the march commenced, Vijayendra addressed the gathering, accusing the Congress government of neglecting farmers. He stated, “Since Shivakumar took office as Chief Minister, it seems he has forgotten about the farmers.” The BJP leader further alleged that the Congress government prioritized politics over the welfare of farmers, claiming that instead of safeguarding Karnataka’s rights in the Cauvery dispute, the government was entangled in the battle for the Chief Minister’s position.
Questions Raised on Decision-Making
Vijayendra questioned Chief Minister Shivakumar regarding the decision to release water to Tamil Nadu, asserting that there had been no serious discussions with legal experts or consultations with other stakeholders before making such a decision. He also criticized the government’s choice to convene an all-party meeting following the CWMA’s order.