Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
A
gitation on the streets is necessary to draw the attention of the Supreme Court:Bommai
With the Congress-led State Government sacrificing the interest of Karnataka to protect the interest of DMK,a partner in I.N.D.I.A front,the Siddaramaiah government must convince the Tamilnadu government to negotiate to resolve the vexed Cauvery issue,opined former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
He told reporters on the sidelines of the Bengaluru Bunch here on Monday that the bundh had been successful not only in the State Capital but also in the Cauvery basin areas.
The patience of the people has been breached but the state government has not woken up from the slumber.
Several agitations had been held in the state during the BJP regime and none of the protests were curtailed.
While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that agitations would not be curtailed, the police rounded up the number of protesters since morning.
Despite this, the bunch was successful and the organisers needed to be complimented for making this a big success.
The unity was the need of the hour and the people and the organisations have made the Bundh a complete success.
“During Covid,the Congressmen had violated the rules and did the Padayatra for the implementation of the Mekedatu project just for politics.But we allowed them to hold the convention.
Now the protesters are not allowed to march to Freedom Park.We are not asking for power or seeking help from you.We are not allowed to hold protests to draw attention to the fact that the State government has failed to protect Cauvery.The government is using the police force to oppress the agitators”, he said.
Will farmers do politics?
Reacting to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement that the opposition parties were politicizing the Cauvery row, the former CM sought to know whether farmers and Kannada organizations do politics.
The CM must protest the interest of the State rather than that of the I.N.D.I.A front alliance partner.
“They have released water to Tamil Nadu and now they are asking for the Prime Minister’s intervention. How it is possible?
The state of Tamil Nadu was in I.N.D.I.A front and an alliance partner of the Congress Party. Let former AICC President Sonia Gandhi call them and hold talks.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government must convince the Tamil Nadu Government for a dialogue”.
Asked about former PM H.D.Deve Gowda seeking intervention of the PM,Bommai said the previous prime ministers had intervened when the Cauvery water row was pending in the Supreme Court but not after the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal passed its orders.
No need for Dy.CM’s statement?
The former CM questioned the need for Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D.K.Shivakumar to say that there was an inflow of 10,000 cusecs into the KRS dam while the Cauvery Water sharing row was being discussed in the CWRC.
Does this statement make an impact on the CMRC?
Such statements had been doing injustice to Karnataka. Now, the CWRA directed the state to release 3000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu.
Whatever may be the CWRC’s ruling, the State must not agree to it and file an interim Application in the Supreme Court against this ruling.
The CWRC’s orders were not on a scientific basis and they must issue orders depending upon the ground reality or else it cannot be acceptable.
The state leadership must take the lead without wasting much time.The issue was becoming complex since it had taken the issue very lightly.The state could explain the current situation if an IA was filed immediately.
Agitation must
To draw the attention of the state government, farmers and pro-Kannada organizations,including the BJP, organized a bandh in Bengaluru.
However, this government was not in a position to listen. It was necessary to take to the streets and fight to convey the people’s anger to the Supreme Court. ”
This is the cloth business to say that the government has made less water flow, this is the problem of Cauvery water, which is a serious issue”.
Responding to a question about changing the lawyers who are now arguing for the state,he said that it is up to the government to change the team of lawyers and he does not know what was discussed between them.
Revenue down after liquor rates hiked: Bommai
Excise revenue has dipped due to increase in tax on liquor by the state government.Compared to other states, the price of alcohol was high in the state.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai said that illegal liquor is being supplied from Goa and Maharashtra.
It was unfortunate that the state government has decided to sell liquor at the panchayat level, and as they have increased the price of liquor, the income has decreased.
The government had taken this route to get back the money given to Griha Lakshmi. It was working to deteriorate people’s health.
The state government should withdraw this decision immediately.Now, liquor is being illegally supplied from Maharashtra and Goa as the price has been increased in the state.
Thousands of families were ruined by this. Everyone should oppose this decision of the government, he added.
