It is difficult, but will obey Supreme Court order: Karnataka

After an emergency Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on decided to obey the Supreme Court’s modified order of September 12 to release 12,000 cusec of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 20, though it said “this order was the most difficult to follow”. The state government also said those indulging in violence during protests against release of water will be dealt with “iron-hands”. 

After discussing the modalities of implementing the apex court direction and the ways to deal with the violence over release of water, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, Monday’s Court order was the “most difficult” to follow, but it could not be disobeyed or rejected as it would be against the Constitution. He said after weighing the pros and cons “constitutionally, legally and politically” and keeping in mind the main Special Leave Petition challenging the Cauvery tribunal’s final award coming up on October 18, it was decided to obey the court’s order. He stressed that both September 5 and 12 orders were interim orders of the Apex Court. 

Siddaramaiah, who has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he will be seeking his intervention. “Law and order will have a bearing not only on Karnataka, but also Tamil Nadu because of movement of people. I will request him to call Chief Ministers of both the states to decide on this issue,” he said.