Pontiff Shivamurthy Shivacharya of Murugha Mutt in Chitradurga, on Saturday, called upon the people put up an united fight in river water sharing disputes in the state. During his visit to the site of agitation over Cauvery River water issue near Visvesvaraya statue here, he said, the people of the state should stay united and ensure that the state gets its due share in Mahadayi, Bhadra and Cauvery river water.
Shivarudra Swami of Marale Gavi Mutt, Kanakapura, said, the pontiffs are not just restricted to offering puja, they also respond to the people’s problems. “The pontiffs and the seers of various mutts in the state have expressed their solidarity with the protesters in Cauvery River water sharing dispute. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should intervene to resolve the issue,” he said.
Trinetra Mahanta Shivayogi Swami of Bebi Mutt said, “The governments - the Centre and the state - should understand that nothing is possible without farmers. He said, the state is going through an agrarian crisis and many farmers have committed suicide over farming issues. The state government should announce crop loss compensation and waive off farm loans in this hour of crisis,” he demanded.
Prasanna Swami of Harihara Mutt, Basava Machideva of Machideva Mutt in Chitradurga, Ramalinga Swami of Hosamath in Haveri among others were present.
Agitation continues
Demanding a permanent solution to Cauvery River water sharing issue, various organisations, including members of women self-help groups, youths, former police officers, staged a protest in Mandya on Saturday.
Hundreds of protestors, who gathered near the Visvesvaraya statue, here, raised slogans against the state government and also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to resolve the issue. A group of youths from Indavalu village took out a bike rally in the city, shouting slogans against the state government.
Members of Sadhana Self-Help Group, Stree Shakti Sangha, Kadamba Sainya, Kannada Sene and members of Retired Police Officers’ Association took part in the agitation.
Farmers leader Sunanda Jayaram flayed the state government for releasing water to Tamil Nadu for Samba crops. The Central government should intervene and resolve the issue and announce crop loss compensation for the farmers of Cauvery basin, she said.
Published 24 September 2016, 18:18 IST