Religious heads join Cauvery stir in K'taka

Mysore, Feb 20 (UNI) The ongoing Cauvery stir by farmers and others in Karnataka has received a shot in the arm, with hundreds of religious heads of various mutts joining the agitators by taking out a massive 'Padayatra' in the city today.

Seers and religious leaders, accompanied by thousands of students and members of various organisations, marched from Basaveshwara Circle to the Deputy Commissioner's office and submitted a memorandum, addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to Deputy Commissioner S Selva Kumar. Copies of the same would be sent to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, urging them to immediately intervene in the matter.

The memorandum urged the Union Government not to issue a gazette notification on the Tribunal verdict under any circumstance and said it was unfortunate that the Tribunal chose to deliver its verdict that appears to be based more on previous judgements and interim orders rather than the ground reality.

Sri Shivakumaraswami of Siddaganga Mutt, Tumkur, Balagangadhara Swami of Adhichunchanagiri Mutt, Shivarathri Deshikendraswami of Suttur Mutt, Vishveshwa Thirtha Swamiji of Pejawar mutt, Udupi, Ganapathi Sachidananda Swami of Avadhoota Datta Peetha and Cauvery Hitarakshana Samithi President G Made Gowda were among those who took part in the 'padayatra.' Later, addressing the crowd, Sri Deshikendraswami said the verdict should be rejected and the Tribunal should include farmers representatives from all the four riparian States. The State Government should seek review of the Tribunal order to do justice to the farmers.

Sri Visweshwa Thirtha Swami said the seers would not hesitate to go to New Delhi and raise their voice for the State farmers. He made it clear that they were not against any State, but only fighting for justice for the State and its people.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mr Made Gowea said all the MPs from the State should press for an amendment to the Inter-State Water Disputes Act in Parliament session, commencing on February 23.

Meanwhile, in Mandya district, protestors pelted stones at Tamil Nadu registered lorries and private buses at Maddur town, smashing the window screens of two vehicles. They also tried to set fire to buses, but police intervened and stopped them. Farmers and other agitators blocked the Bangalore-Mysore highway at various places.

In Chamarajanagara, Kannada organisations staged a novel protest by taking out a procession and ringing temple bells all through the way.

A Hubli report said the Karnataka Raithu Sangha members would lay siege to Raj Bhavan on February 23 to protest against the final award.

Talking to newspersons at Hubli, Sangha President Puttannaiah said about 5,000 farmers and members of Sarvodaya Karnataka Party, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti and Karunadu Sena would lay siege to Raj Bhavan at 1300 hrs and submit a memorandum to Governor T N Chaturvedi.

UNI