Mysuru: Coming down heavily on the state government for using police force to silence innocent farmers taking part in protests across North Karnataka over Mahadayi tribunal verdict, the state JDS president and former chief minister gave 48 hours ultimatum to government to restore normalcy.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, HD Kumaraswamy said that if the government does not release farmers from prison and if the cases against them are not withdrawn in the next 48 hours he would join the protest to express solidarity with the affected people, mostly in North Karnataka. He said that he would speak to the state home minister to act and restore normalcy at the earliest to ensure peace in the affected region. The inhuman action by the police force on innocent farmers taking part in protests citing damage to public property is not acceptable at this juncture as only the farmers fighting for their rights are at the receiving end due to police action. He would join the protestors in North Karnataka if the government fails to withdraw cases in next 48 hours, he warned.
Demands central Ministers and MP’s resignations
Demanding the resignation of central ministers and MP’s over the issue, he said nothing else would satisfy the people in the affected region as they have deceived the voters who elected them during the last 20 years. He demanded they should explain the ground realities to PM Modi and express their difficulties facing electorate in future. The tribunal verdict gave all of them an opportunity to display their true mettle and if the PM willing, the issue can be resolved in two minutes, he said.
Criticizing both central and state governments attempting to drag the issue till 2018 assembly elections, he warned that the affected people will not forgive the leaders. The protests which stated a year ago if used to gain further political advantage may make leaders insignificant, he cautioned.
It may be recalled, The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal had rejected Karnataka’s plea for an interim order to allow the state to draw 7.56 tmcft of water from Mahadayi river. Protests erupted in the northern districts of the state after the tribunal’s ruling, with several farmer and pro-Kannada organisations calling for a state-wide bandh on Saturday.
