Cauvery row: Vedike threatens hunger stir from Monday

Members of Kasturi Karnataka Janapara Vedike launched an indefinite protest on Friday demanding that the state government stop release of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu from Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam.

On Saturday, the Vedike threatened to launch a hunger strike from Monday. The members, who are protesting at the dried up ‘Maddur Kere’, stated that the authorities should release water to the canals for agriculture. Vedike president K Rameshgowda said that the government has failed to protect the interests of farmers and is releasing water to Tamil Nadu. “If the government has any concern for the farmers of the state, it should immediately stop releasing water to the neighbouring state. The authorities must, instead, take measures to fill lakes in the region. If the government fails to stop the release of water before Monday, the Vedike would launch a hunger strike,” he warned.

Vedike district president V C Umashankar, taluk president Thippur Rajesh and K G Umesh were present. Similarly, members of Gram Panchayat Okkutta staged a protest in Srirangapatna town. The members staged a protest near Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and near Kuvempu statue. The agitators raised slogans against the state government and the authorities of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam.

“A large number of youths are migrating to cities in search of jobs due to rampant water problem but the state government is not worried about farmers and their families,” Okkutta president Yarahalli Shivakumar said.

Members Dayanandaswamy, B M Srinivas and T Rangegowda were present.