The Congress and the JD(S) members in the Legislative Assembly staged a walkout protesting against the government for releasing water from the KRS reservoir to Tamil Nadu to comply with the Supreme Court order directing the state to release 2.44 tmc feet of water.
Upset with the Opposition playing politics with the Cauvery issue, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said that he was ready to resign if that would solve the water dispute.
As soon as the Assembly proceedings began on Monday, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and JD(S) floor leader HD Revanna charged the government with sacrificing the state’s interest by listening to advocates.
They demanded the CM to replace the existing legal team representing Karantaka in the Cauvery case. Siddaramaiah, however, accused that the BJP government of compromising the state’s interests to stay in power.
“You have no moral right to continue in power. You have betrayed the people of the state,” he said and demanded Shettar’s resignation.
Meanwhile, the JD(S) members trooped into the well of the House and demanded compensation for the loss to sugarcane crop due to water scarcity in the Cauvery basin.
Water Resources Minister Basvaraj Bommai said that the government had no option but to comply with the Supreme Court orders.
“We too are not happy to release water. We are releasing 1,000 cusecs,” he said adding that the government was also considering ways to ensure that there is water till the next monsoon.
Bommai said, “The release of water doesn’t mean that we are not safeguarding the interests of farmers.” Not convinced by the minister’s reply the Opposition staged a walkout.
Upset with the Opposition’s behaviour, the CM said, “We are committed to protect the state’s interests. There is no doubt about it,”he said dismissing the Opposition charges.