Senior BJP leader R. Ashoka issued a warning that the BJP plans to besiege the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir if the Karnataka government does not release water for crops in the Cauvery basin within three days. Ashoka visited drought-affected sugarcane fields in Mandya district, interacting with farmers to assess crop damage due to water scarcity. He criticized the Congress government for neglecting farmers’ needs amid political priorities and urged an all-party meeting on the Cauvery water-sharing matter.
Ashoka emphasized the necessity for Karnataka to develop a unified approach to safeguard farmers’ interests, particularly with Tamil Nadu actively pursuing its claims through legal means. He stressed the importance of addressing the drought situation and Cauvery issue promptly instead of political matters. If water is not released from KRS within the stipulated time, the BJP plans to take action to ensure water availability for farmers, according to Ashoka.
The BJP leader highlighted the urgency of releasing water to protect existing sugarcane crops, even if new cultivation is not feasible. He called for compensation for farmers facing crop losses and advocated for declaring drought to facilitate relief measures like subsidies for fodder and drinking water. Ashoka also criticized the state leadership for prioritizing ministerial positions over farmers’ welfare and urged broader consultations with MLAs from all parties on the Cauvery issue.
