New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday appealed for calm over the Cauvery water dispute and his government assured all help to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu which have been hit by violence and arson.
PM Modi urged the people of both states to show sensitivity and mind their civic responsibilities, while letting the law take its course in the bitter dispute over river-water sharng between the two southern neighbouring states.
"I am personally pained at the developments. Violence cannot provide a solution to any problem. In a democracy, solutions are found through restraint and mutual dialogue. This dispute can only be solved within the legal ambit. Breaking the law is not a viable alternative. The violence and arson seen in the last two days is only causing loss to the poor, and to our nation’s property," the PM said in his appeal.
Union Home Minister Rajnath singh spoke to the chief ministers, J Jayalalithaa and Siddaramiah on the phone and and assured them of central assistance as and when required. Sources in the ministry said 10 companies of Riot Action Police have been sent to Bengaluru, while 10 more companies of ITBP and BSF have been put on standby.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the party MP from Congress-ruled Karnataka however said: " The PM must intervene. In the past, prime ministers have intervened. Nothing stops the PM now."
One person was killed and scores of vehicles were set on fire in the violence that hit many parts of Bengaluru on Monday afternoon in retaliation against reported attacks on properties of Kannadigas on the other side of the border.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told News18.com that he was in touch with chief secretary of Karnataka and that whatever additional help is needed will be provided.
However the Union government is letting the state government of Karnataka tackle the situation in Bengaluru, arguing that since law and order is a state subject, the Centre cannot intervene unilaterally.
An MHA spokesperson said, "No meeting of MHA offcials on Cauvery is happening today. Water resource ministry is the nodal ministry for the dispute. The law and order situation is for the state to tackle."
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Venkiah Naidu appealed for peace and asked media houses to refrain from showing any video which would incite further violence. " Water is no doubt a sensitive and emotive issue, and particularly, in times of scarcity. It is in the fitness of things that such issues are resolved through discussions among the parties concerned. The Cauvery Waters issue is sub-judice and the Supreme Court has given a direction after listening to both the states. If still there are any issues, leadership of both the states could discuss the same and come out with a way forward," he said.
Union Minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu tweeted that two special trains will leave Bengaluru City for Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur to bring back home Keralities who had gone to celebrate Onam.
In February this year, the country had seen a riot-like situation in BJP-ruled Haryana, with the home minister and the prime minister himself taking stock of the situation then.
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