Trouble brews over Cauvery water again

‘‘I have sought an appointment with the Prime Minister. If it is confirmed, I will myself lead a delegation of leaders of all parties and Tamil Nadu MPs to Delhi on Saturday,’’ Jayalalithaa said.

Referring to Karnataka’s plea that the farmers’ agitation could now spin out of control, she demanded that her counterpart S.M. Krishna quit or his government be dismissed on the ground that it was not able to maintain law and order.

In Bangalore, Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister D.B. Chandregowda, while insisting that no constitutional provisions had been violated, said Karnataka had already honoured the September 3 Supreme Court order directing it to release 1.2 TMC ft of water and also that of the Cauvery River Authority, which asked for release of 0.8 TMC ft.

While Karnataka has so far not decided to meet the Prime Minister, it is likely that it will also follow suit and appeal to Vajpayee to convene an emergency meeting of the CRA, possibly before the Supreme Court hearing on Monday.

Chief Minister S.M. Krishna has convened an all-party meeting here on Saturday to decide on what lines the State should argue its case before the apex court.

According to sources in the state government, there are few apprehensions as far as convincing the apex court of the compliance of the orders of the Supreme Court and the Cauvery River Authority till yesterday are concerned. But it doesn’t seem so sure about getting the apex court’s ear on making law and order an excuse to stop water releases.

Karnataka Information Minister Kagodu Thimmappa said the government is ready to face any consequences. The state had to take a bold step to be seen as pro-farmer as the situation in and around Mysore and Mandya is likely to turn volatile.

Krishna also needs firm political footing as the agitation has the potential of going out of hand and as violent as in 1991.