Cauvery Row: Gowda on Hunger Strike Seeking ‘Justice’ for Karnataka

Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda began an indefinite hunger strike here on Saturday, seeking justice for Karnataka in the ongoing row with Tamil Nadu over release of Cauvery water.

The 83-year-old Janata Dal (Secular) supremo is on a fast near the Mahatma Gandhi statue next to Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat here. Gowda's sudden decision comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court order on Friday, asking Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water till October 6 to Tamil Nadu and the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board. "We want justice. Drinking water is essential for humans to survive," Gowda, a former Chief Minister, told reporters here, as he launched the hunger strike.

Asserting that he would continue his protest till Karnataka gets justice from the Union government, Gowda said he still has confidence in the Prime Minister that the issue will be resolved.

Gowda said he would not be attending the all-party meet called by Chief Minister Siddaramaia later on Saturday to chalk out the next course of action in the light of the apex court order, which came as a huge setback to the state. Home Minister G Parameshwara, who visited Gowda, said the former Prime Minister had always fought for the state's interests and added, "I hope it (the hunger strike) will open the eyes of the judiciary."

Taking Karnataka to task for its repeated defiance by flouting its orders, the apex court had earlier asked it to release 6,000 cusecs water from Saturday till October 6 to Tamil Nadu, warning no one would know when the wrath of the law would fall on it.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit had also directed the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board by October 4. Chief minister Siddaramaiah is also scheduled to conduct a Council of Ministers meeting after the all-party meet.

PTI