Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah writes to Jayalalitha to ensure protection of Kannadigas

Ahead of a state-wide bandh in Tamil Nadu on Friday over the raging Cauvery issue, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday wrote to his counterpart J Jayalalithaa requesting her to ensure protection of the lives and properties of Kannada speaking people. 

"I am deeply concerned that certain organisations have? called for a bandh in Tamil Nadu tomorrow. You would agree that any escalation of animosity between the two?states would be to the collective detriment of both the states," he said in his letter, a copy of which was released to the media here.

"I would request you to kindly take all steps?to ensure that during the so-called bandh on 16.09.2016, no?untoward incident takes place and the lives and properties of?Kannada speaking people in Tamil Nadu are protected," the release said. Siddaramaiah also requested her to issue an advisory to the media to report "responsibly" the incidents relating to the Cauvery agitation as was done by his government. 

The bandh has been called by farmers' and traders' bodies tomorrow to protest against the "violence" targeting Tamils in Karnataka and seek a long-term solution to the water sharing issue. It is supported by DMK, MDMK, PMK, CPI(M), CPI and others. 

Violence had erupted in the city on Monday with dozens?of buses and lorries with Tamil Nadu number plate being set on? fire as mobs let out their fury over reports of some incidents?of attack on Kannadigas and their properties in Tamil Nadu. It flared up soon after the apex court gave its amended order, directing Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu till September 20.