Cauvery water row: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah appeals for peace, asks PM Narendra Modi to intervene

An uneasy calm prevailed in Bengaluru on Tuesday after outbreak of violence over the issue of sharing Cauvery River water with Tamil Nadu, as Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah government warned of “stringent” action against vandalism or attempts to disturb peace.

As the water war between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka escalated, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday appealed for peace and said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene in the matter. Siddaramaiah said that he will most probably meet the PM on Wednesday and will also request him to call Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Here is what all Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said while addressing a Press Conference:

#Once again I appeal to all to please cooperate

#We have full confidence in judiciary

#I will request PM to call TN CM Jayalalithaa as well

#But problem arose yesterday at Mysore Road even after that, so we brought in more security forces today

#Violence is not a solution to any problem. We have to maintain peace and tranquillity in the society
#It is true that violence is not a solution to any problem. We have to maintain peace and tranquillity in the society

#In sensitive areas where Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam & BakrEid are being celebrated we have deployed security forces

#I have written to the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter, have asked for an appointment immediately. Most probably I will meet him tomorrow.

#Was water released today?: Reporter.  Yes we have been releasing water today, on and off:  K'taka CM

#Difficult to implement SC order, bt will make sure theres enough drinking water for B'lore, Mysore, Mandya, other Cauvery basin area

#If you don’t show volatility it will help. Bengaluru isn’t just capital for Karnataka but an international city - Silicon Valley of India

#I need media's cooperation in bringing the situation to normal. Please join hands with the govt

#I need the media's co-operation in bringing the situation to normal. Please join hands with the Govt

#Whoever lost his or her life in police firing, will get Rs 10 lakh compensation

#As per the order we've released water for six days. The order is hard to follow but we'll still follow the SC order

#People should not take law in their own hands, don't cause damage to public property

#But we have had to deal with the situation arising out of it, we have to implement in the executive what judiciary has directed

#The inability to implement the 5th Sep judgement is the reason why yesterdays direction came from the SC

#We have been facing injustice on #CauveryIssue for a very long time

#One additional army brigade deployed in South Kashmir to assist civil administration to maintain peace

#Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addresses the media

What PM Narendra Modi said on Karnataka violence?

Earlier on Tuesday, Modi expressed pain over the developments in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery water dispute and appealed for peace while underlining that violence cannot provide solution to any problem.

He asserted that the dispute can only be solved within the legal ambit and “breaking the law is not a viable alternative”.

“Situation that has emerged in Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, as a fallout of issue of distribution of waters of Cauvery River, is distressful.I am personally pained at the developments,” he said in a statement.

“Violence cannot provide a solution to any problem. In a democracy, solutions are found through restraint and mutual dialogue,” he said.

Karnataka witnessed a violent Monday

One person was killed and another injured in police firing in Karnataka on Monday as the Cauvery water sharing row with Tamil Nadu turned violent, escalating tensions between the two states. As Bangalore witnessed widespread violence bringing it on the edge, night curfew was imposed in 16 police station limits late Tuesday night. Several buses were set on fire and shops were attacked.

The Supreme Court, modifying its September 5 order, had on Tuesday asked Karnataka to release a reduced amount of 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu till September 20.

Supreme Court’s September 5 order

In its September five order, the apex court had directed release of 15,000 cusecs for 10 days to ameliorate the plight of farmers of the neighbouring state, which had triggered strong protests from farmers and pro-Kannada outfits with Karnataka observing a bandh against it on September nine. 

700 additional central forces rush to Karnataka

An additional 700 riot control police personnel were on Tuesday rushed to Karnataka to tackle the situation arising out of the protests over Cauvery river water sharing. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been sent to the violence-prone areas of Karnataka to assist the local administration to ensure peace, official sources said.

With this, a total of 1,700 paramilitary personnel have been deployed in violence-hit areas of Karnataka for maintaining law and order.