Date:20/09/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/09/20/stories/2002092003190100.htm

Front Page

Stage-managed protests, says Jayalalithaa

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI SEPT. 19 . The Karnataka Government is "stage-managing" protests to provide an excuse for halting the release of Cauvery water and a State Government "not capable of maintaining law and order should quit or be dismissed," the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, said today.

In an unsparing attack on the Karnataka Government, Ms. Jayalalithaa said she had "received reports" that the farmer (who reportedly fell to death in the Kabini reservoir on Wednesday) was "pushed into the dam" to stop water discharge to Tamil Nadu. "Citing law and order cannot be a justification for flouting the directive of the Supreme Court," she told the media here. And, Tamil Nadu would file a contempt of court petition against the Karnataka Government tomorrow for "wilfully flouting the Supreme Court's order".

After long consultations with officials and Ministers, the Chief Minister also decided to convene an all-party meeting here tomorrow, the first since the start of a fresh Cauvery crisis this June. She would also lead a delegation to the Prime Minister on Saturday to press Tamil Nadu's case in the inter-State water row.

Asked if Tamil Nadu would press for the dismissal of the Krishna Government and the protection by Central forces for the dams in Karnataka to ensure the release of water, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the contents of the memorandum to be presented to the Prime Minister would be decided at the all-party meet.

Nonetheless, she charged that the protests by Karnataka farmers had been inspired by political parties in that State and that it was a "serious lapse and failure of the law and order enforcement machinery". Since the demonstrations were continuing for the past few days, the Karnataka Government should have ensured the adequate deployment of police forces at the dams, she said, insisting that the protests were "stage-managed".

Karnataka, she said, had not released the prescribed annual quantum of 205 tmc ft water for even one year since the Cauvery Tribunal announced the interim award. "Because of this, we have been forced to approach the Supreme Court to secure our legitimate share. However, Karnataka has been wilfully defying the order of the Supreme Court too."