Bike, bullock cart rallies against Cauvery verdict

Mysore, Mar 13 (UNI) Bike rally, procession by oil tankers and bullock cart rally marked the protests today against the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in the Cauvery basin districts of Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar since February five.

In Mandya, the three-day-old hunger strike by the Samajwadi Party workers at Silver Jubilee park was called off after party State President and former Chief Minister S Bangarappa advised so following MPs from the State meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urging him to intervene in the issue. A bullock cart procession was taken out by the villagers, Mandya Sports Club Association members and students of Mysugar High School. Protests and dharnas continued at Maddur, Mallavalli, Srirangapatna, Pandavapura and K R Pet in the district.

In Mysore, H D Kote Block Congress Committee, headed by former Minister M Shivanna, organised a motorcycle rally from Kabini reservoir in H D Kote to Mysore against the verdict. Later, they submitted a memorandum at the Deputy Commissioner's office, urging the State Government to reject the verdict and pursue a clear and focussed path to secure justice for the farmers. Members of the Mysore region Petroleum Dealers Association and owners of oil tankers formed a chain with over 100 oil tankers at the K R circle, disrupting normal traffic for some time.

Agitations were also held in Chamarajanagar district.

UNI