Cauvery issue: Karnataka CM to meet PM

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will take the state's woes on Cauvery water sharing row to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's doorsteps and brief him about the injustice rendered out to it in the final orders of the tribunal.

"I have sought an appointment with the prime minister and will be meeting him soon," Kumaraswamy told media persons after chairing a high level meeting to review law and order situation in the backdrop of a 12-hour bandh called by Kannada organisations to protest the tribunal verdict.

The government has been toying with several options, including initiating steps within legal framework to secure justice to the state on cauvery water sharing, he said, but declined to divulge them.

Expressing doubts over the Centre rendering justice to the state, Kumaraswamy remarked, "The previous experience has not been encouraging. At least now, we hope, the Centre will come to our rescue."

"Let the Centre discharge its responsibility. Let not the Centre repeat earlier instances," he said but did not outline the issues over which injustice was caused to the state.

Kumaraswamy said he will be convening a meeting of parliamentarians of the state in New Delhi before Febraury 22 to seek their support to fight the state's case in Parliament. The chief minister complimented the people of the state for maintaining peace and order during the bandh and also the police who have been 'effectively controlling the situation.'

"We have to appreciate the patience of our people who have been agitating peacefully for their legitimate demand on Cauvery ever since the Tribunal announced its verdict on February five," he said.

He defended the decision of the JDS-BJP government in not supporting the bandh, citing the Supereme Court order on bandhs, but added: "Personally, I express agreement with those who have given call for bandh in exercise of their fundamental right to protest."