CHS accuses Ambareesh of dividing Cauvery agitators

Mandya, Karnataka, Feb 23 (UNI) Accusing Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting M H Ambareesh of attempting to divide the Cauvery agitators, the Cauvery Hitarakshana Samithi today set the end of this month deadline for the Karnataka Government to take a stand on the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

Addressing farmers and other organisations at Silver Jubilee Park here, Samithi President G Made Gowda urged both the Union and State Governments to ensure that the award was not notified.

The MPs from the State should seek support of other State MPs to raise the issue in Parliament and put pressure on the UPA Government at the Centre to amend the Inter-State Water Disputes Act. This is the only solution now as there is no point in approaching the court, he opined.

Stating that the Samithi had been fighting for the Cauvery cause since 1991 when the interim award was announced, he said farmer leaders from the entire Cauvery basin were fighting for justice unitedly but the actor-turned-politician, representing Mandya in Parliament, was trying to use the situation and divide the protestors, he alleged.

The agitation would continue until the farmers of the State get justice, Mr Gowda declared, stating he had made it clear in the meeting of MPs on February 15 and the same would be reiterated at the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy tomorrow.

He said he had suggested to Mr Ambareesh that he should not resign from the Union Council of Ministers or give away his membership to the Lok Sabha, but should fight inside Parliament for the cause of the farmers.

Earlier, Mr Ambareesh visited the Park and invited Mr Gowda and other Samithi members to participate in the rally organised by him.

The Samithi members However, rejected his offer.

UNI