Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to take all measures to ensure that no untoward incidents take place and the lives and the properties of Kannada-speaking people in Tamil Nadu are protected.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in a letter (No. PSCM: 1354:2-16, dated 15-9-2016), has said that Karnataka government has issued an advisory to the media to report responsibly on the incidents related to Cauvery agitation. “I request you kindly to do the same. I have instructed my Chief Secretary, Home, Director General of Police to be in touch with your authorities.  I request you to kindly advice your officers to be in touch with their counterparts in Karnataka,” the chief minister said.

The chief minister said that no benefit can be had by anybody through bandhs and agitations while the issue of sharing Cauvery water is being adjudicated by the courts and looked into by Cauvery Supervisory Committee. “I am deeply concerned that certain organisations have called for bandh in Tamil Nadu tomorrow.  You would appreciate that any escalation of animosity between the two states will be to the collective detriment of the both states,” the chief minister said.

Assuring that Karnataka government is committed to protect the lives and properties of all residents of Karnataka regardless of their religion or language, the chief minister reminded Tamil Nadu chief minister about his letter dated 12-9-2016 stating that incidents of violence against Kannada-speaking people in Tamil Nadu would incite passions threatening peace in Karnataka. “Unfortunately, violence erupted on September 12 despite all the precautions taken by us. However, the situation was brought under control within hours. We have booked large number of cases against the rioters and have taken strict action to ensure violence does not spread. I have also issued strict instructions to the law and order machinery to ensure that such incidents are not repeated,” the chief minister said.