Karnataka - Mysore   

Cauvery row: religious heads extend support to State's cause

Staff Correspondent

They take out padayatra, seek review of the final award

SEA OF HUMANITY: At a rally held in protest against the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, in Mysore on Tuesday. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: The ongoing protests against the verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal took a new turn on Tuesday, with religious heads taking out a "padayatra" in support of the State's cause.

Religious heads including Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math, Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji of Suttur Math, Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math, Vishvesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, Bishop of Mysore Thomas A. Vazhapally, Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Panditaradhya Swamiji of Moodbidri and Mohammad Salim participated in a silent march taken out from Shivarathri Rajendra Circle and culminated at the Scouts and Guides field near the Deputy Commissioner's office.

Thousands of people, elected representatives and students participated in the protest rally.

`Injustice'

Describing the rally as historic, heads of various religions urged the Prime Minister to intervene and set right the "injustice" done by the tribunal to the upper riparian State and desist from notifying the award in the gazette. They also extended support to the State's endeavour in safeguarding the interest of farmers.

Addressing the gathering, the former Union Minister V. Srinivas Prasad described the final award as "irrational, unscientific, arbitrary and one that cannot be implemented."

"It is not a mere protest, but a caution to the concerned that saints who stood against injustice for centuries will not be silent spectators when survival of the farming community is at stake. The tribunal should review the award, Mr. Prasad said.

"We in Karnataka are peace-loving people. But we are not cowards. Nobody should presume it to be the weakness of Kannadigas," he said.

Describing the ongoing agitation as the "third war of independence," Cauvery Hita Rakshana Samithi convener and former MP G. Made Gowda said that this was a war to get justice to the State's farmers and the agitation would continue till the goal was achieved.

Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji of Suttur Math described the "padayatra" as symbolic and cautioned that the agitation would be intensified in case the State was denied justice.

The tribunal had done injustice to the State owing to political reasons. The Centre should settle the issue amicably among the riparian States, he said. Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math said that it was necessary for the people to extend moral support to the Government, and that the Lok Sabha members should pressure the Prime Minister to intervene.

Bishop of Mysore Thomas A. Vazhapally called upon the people to fight till they get justice. Ganapathi Sachchidanda Swamiji of Datta Peeta also spoke.

Visvesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said that the problem was not limited to south Karnataka, but it was an issue pertaining to the entire State. Mohammad Salim said that people of Karnataka were claiming for their rightful share of water.

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