With each passing day, the number of protestors is swelling on the streets of Cauvery basin districts. On Sunday, the agitation got a boost with prominent pontiffs of various religious maths joining the movement.
Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mutt and Chandrasekhar Swamiji of Kengeri Mutt were among noted religious heads, who sat on protest near Cauvery Vana, along with thousands of agitators under the banner of Cauvery River Protection Committee.
Hundreds of farmers joined the protest riding over 60 bullock carts from nearby villages. They burnt an effigy of Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa after entering Mandya city. They also hanged effigies of Ms Jayalalithaa and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from a tree, condemning the injustice being meted out to the people of Karnataka historically in Cauvery water-sharing dispute.
Chandrasekhar Swamiji cautioned the people from Tamil Nadu living in Karnataka. “There are thousands of Tamilians living in Bengaluru, Mysore and other parts of the state. They should speak out and support Karnataka. If not, we may be forced to take adverse steps. All Tamilians in Karnataka were sent out when they remained silent during the Cauvery agitation when Bangarappa was chief minister. We may have to take a similar stand now, if they don’t support our cause. Ms Jayalalithaa, who is inhuman in her water demands, can be taught a lesson if its own people revolt against the TN government.”
Mr. T.A. Narayana Gowda, president, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), said their activists will lock all central government offices on Monday, lay siege to Raj Bhawan on Tuesday and hold a massive conference on Thursday on the National College Grounds in Bengaluru. The agitators threatened to disrupt water supply to Bengaluru. “Over 15 lakh Bengalureans are drinking Cauvery water, but have still remained thick-skinned, which is unpardonable. We will seal the T.G. Halli water treatment plant, if we are not supported,” he said.
Balagangadharanatha Swamiji said Cauvery river belongs to Karnataka. The TN government, Prime Minister or the Supreme Court cannot force the people of Karnataka to kill their thirst to release water to Tamil Nadu. Mr. G. Madegowda, chairman, Cauvery River Protection Committee, said, “We will lock the Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini dam gates if the state government succumbs to pressure and decides to release water. We are ready to follow emulate Guruswamy and jump into the river. Farmers are prepared to face police bullets, if situation demands. We won’t back down”, he said.
Guruswamy drowned after jumping into the Kabini dam in 2002 to protest against the release of water to Tamil Nadu.