The agitation organised by the Cauvery River Protection Committee gained momentum on Sunday with seers, actors, politicians and farmers, including women, taking part in it.
Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt, Sri Chandrashekara Swamiji and others participated in the protests in Mysore. Actor Prem and members of Kannada organisations took part in the stir at Silver Jubilee Park in Mandya.The agitation has taken a serious turn after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Cauvery River Authority meeting directed the state to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till October 15.
Balagangadharanatha Swamiji told reporters here that the Cauvery is the property of the people of the state and no one has the right to give it to others. People should launch an apolitical agitation to protect the interests of farmers, he added.
Sri Chandrashekara Swamiji said that all people who use Cauvery water should take part in the stir and called upon the Tamil population to take the lead.
Prem said that the demand for water has posed a threat to farmers who are already suffering from drought.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president Narayan Gowda said that they will lay siege to the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday and urge Governor H R Bhardwaj to break his silence over the issue. A meeting will be held at National College Grounds on Thursday.
Stir in Ch’nagar
Former MLA Vatal Nagraj and his party men burnt the effigy of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. They took out a march from Chamarajeshwari temple and burnt the effigy at Buvaneshwari Circle.
Nagraj criticised the Centre for taking a unilateral decision when the state is reeling under severe drought. He accused Jayalalitha of using the Cauvery issue for political gain, adding that there is enough water in Mettur reservoir.
He also demanded that Karnataka file a petition in the Supreme Court against the Cauvery River Authority direction. He said that Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar should dissolve the government if he toes the line and releases water to Tamil Nadu. Nagraj also called upon the political parties and Kannada organisations to support the Karnataka bandh on October 6.