An eerie calm prevailed in Bengaluru on Tuesday following the imposition of curfew in 16 localities across the city, following incidents of violence and arson on Monday.
Most parts of Karnataka remained violence-free though police resorted to lathi charge in some places, while the curfew has been extended by another day. Section 144 has also been imposed in several cities in the State. There have been wide-ranging protests following a fresh Supreme Court order on Monday, saying Karnataka has to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water a day to Tamil Nadu till Septemer 20.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said he will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to seek his intervention to resolve the long pending Cauvery water issue.
“We want the PM to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers of the Cauvery basin States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry and find out an amicable solution,” he said. He also said that he will request Modi to set up a panel to formulate a national water policy. He pointed out that with the latest Supreme Court order, Karnataka will have to release an additional 18,000 cusecs of water compared with the earlier order.
The CM added that though it was extremely difficult to comply with the order, the State will respect the Supreme Court directive. “As per the order, we have released water for six days. The order is hard to follow but we will still abide by it,” he said.
Congress leaders meetEarlier, Siddaramaiah presided over a meeting of top State Congress leaders to discuss the law and order situation across Karnataka. Assuring protection to Tamilians living in Karnataka, the said he has written to his Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa, asking her to provide protection to Kannadigas and their properties there.
He also requested TV channels to stop repeating visuals of violence that occurred on Monday.
Addressing reporters, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said 335 people have been arrested in the city for indulging in violence and arson yesterday. Additional central forces were deployed in sensitive areas, with the Centre deputing 20 companies of various paramilitary forces. They held a flag march in some of the areas and asked the residents to stay indoors. The State has requested another 10 battalions of CRPF.
The Kerala police will send about 100 policemen to Bengaluru to ensure that people who wish to travel to the State are given a safe passage. The police extended security to DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s daughter Selvi at Vaderhalli, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, after a demonstration by Samata Sainik Dal members there.
In all, two persons have died because of the riots, including one who succumbed to bullet injuries. A total of 97 vehicles were burnt by miscreants yesterday, including 57 buses belonging to a private operator. The total loss incurred by the operator is said to be about ₹50 crore. Since last night, the police have escorted 350 vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration till the State border.
A PTI report said protests continued in some parts of Tamil Nadu for the second day, with fringe outfits holding agitations.