SHIMOGA: Taking strong exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s demand for Cauvery water, former chief minister and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy warned her not to provoke the farmers of Karnataka as it would be difficult to control the situation if they revolted.
Kumaraswamy told reporters here on Sunday that the Tamil Nadu government’s interim petition in the Supreme Court seeking direction against Karnataka not to grow summer crops in the Cauvery valley is a show of arrogance.
“Tamil Nadu raking up the water issue, particularly during summer, seems to be ‘ridiculous and meaningless’. It is important to protect the interests of the farmers here as well and the government should take steps to ensure justice to the state,” Kumaraswamy asserted.
He added that the Tamil Nadu government raises this issue whenever the catchment area of Cauvery river gets scanty rainfall.
“It is difficult to release water to the Tamil Nadu farmers at a time when the farmers of Karnataka are already facing scarcity. Injustice has been meted out to Karnataka in terms of Cauvery water. The farmers will not tolerate the autocracy of the Tamil Nadu government. If the farmers take to the streets, it would create a law and order situation,” Kumaraswamy cautioned.
Tamil Nadu has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking to restrain Karnataka from resorting to summer irrigation.