Bengaluru, 3 July

Opposition BJP has demanded that Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar explain how much Cauvery water has been released from Krishnaraja Sagar dam to Tamil Nadu.

BJP state president BY Vijayendra alleged that water from KRS was released for the sake of political alliance between ruling Congress in Karnataka and Chief Minister C Vijay Joseph led TVK government in Tamil Nadu in whose government the Congress is a part.

At a press conference here, Vijayendra slammed Shivakumar for asking farmers to use their discretion before sowing crops in the state in view of a strong forecast of poor rainfall in the country. The CM on Thursday appealed to the ryots of Karnataka to rethink before sowing as the Centre has already announced that there would be scanty rainfall in the country owing to poor monsoon.

"The chief minister must tell the state's farmers today how much water has been released from KRS, Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs over the last two months," Vijayendra said.

Accepting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also portrayed a grim picture of rainfall, the BJP Karnataka unit president said the CM should come to farmers' rescue instead of asking them not to sow. The CM must conserve water in the reservoirs, he said. Vijayendra asked whether Shivakumar spoke to his Maharashtra counterpart and made arrangements regarding water releases from there to Karnataka.

"Without doing any of that, you have released water from our reservoirs as you wished. Since your alliance government is in power in Tamil Nadu, you wanted to keep the Congress high command happy and maintain good relations with your alliance partner. You didn't realise then that there was a drought situation before releasing the water," the BJP leader alleged.

He said the CM suddenly had an awakening overnight that there is a drought forecast and is misleading the people. "The fate of the State would be the same if someone who is concerned about real estate is holding the reins of power in the state," Vijayendra alleged. He said mere statement will not work as the CM should think how to protect farmers.

Vijayendra questioned Shivakumar's statement that due to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) the legislative session would be held in August and not in July.

"The real reason is the situation within the Congress party. The rates for the Cabinet expansion have not been fixed, though the dates are being fixed. Since the rates have not been finalised, the session is being postponed. They are using SIR as an excuse, saying that because of it they will hold the session in the middle of August," the Shikaripura MLA charged.

Regarding the communal clashes in Naregal village of Hanagal taluk in Haveri district, Vijayendra said six members of the same family belonging to the Halumatha community were subjected to a murderous assault.

Similarly, in Rattehalli of Masur, Shivajirao, who belonged to the Maratha community and came from a poor family, was kicked to death by fanatic elements, the BJP leader alleged. He further claimed that a physiotherapist allegedly became a victim of "Love Jihad" and was murdered.

The term ‘Love Jihad’ is used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into relationships and marriage to convert them to Islam.

Vijayendra alleged that on the one hand there is Shivakumar is playing "soft Hindutva," while on the other, state Home MinisterPriyank Kharge and Congress president BK Hariprasad are following anti-Hindu policies. "Congress government has continued its politics of minority appeasement."

Regarding the SIR of the electoral rolls, which began in the state from 29 June, the BJP leader charged that the Congress government and ruling party legislators are misusing the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) by exerting pressure and exploiting them. He claimed officials are being made to sit inside mosques to complete the SIR process. As a result, Hindus are unable to enter the mosque premises or function halls where the process is being conducted.