Students, lawyers take to the streets over Cauvery row

The heritage city on Wednesday witnessed a series of protests, urging the government not to release 6,000 cusec of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Supreme Court.

Activists of Cauvery Kriya Samithi staged protests in front of Chamarajanagar MP R Dhruvanarayan and Mysuru-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha’s houses, urging the duo to exert pressure on the Centre to intervene in the issue.

Students, under the banner of Bahujan Vidyarthi Sangha (BVS), boycotted classes and staged a protest demanding the resignation of the legislators. The students of 45 departments of Manasagangotri boycotted classes on Wednesday and gathered near the Round Canteen. They raised slogans against Tamil Nadu and also staged a streetplay that stressed on sorting out the differences between the riparian states by holding discussions. Parivarthana team of BVS, comprising 12 students, participated in the 30-minute play, which highlighted the problems faced by farmers. The rising incidence of farmers suicide, politicisation of the Cauvery issue, the importance of unity among farmers were stressed. Later, they took out a bike rally and joined the students of Maharaja’s College in their protest on the college premises. They demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to resolve the problem.

Indefinite protest

Members of the Bar Association launched an indefinite stir near the Gandhi’s bust, in front of the Court’s complex, demanding the state government to take a firm decision. The lawyers, who boycotted the court proceedings, formed a human chain at the circle.

They resolved to continue with the indefinite stir until the state government take a decision to stop releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Mysuru Bar Association president B R Chandramouli claimed the SC’s directive as unscientific and unfair. The apex court has issued orders without considering the ground realities of the state, he opined.

Simple Dasara

Meanwhile, members of Kannada Vedike have urged the district administration to celebrate simple Dasara this year, following the Cauvery imbroglio. “The farmers of Mandya, Hassan and Mysuru are worried as the water level in the dams have depleted. At this juncture, it would be appropriate for the District Administration to celebrate Dasara in a simple manner,” they suggested.

Members of Mysuru District Journalists Association also took out a protest march against the release of water from Tyagaraja Road to the DC’s office.