Stir over Cauvery put on hold till Tuesday

MANDYA: The Mandya Zilla Raita Hitaraksana Samiti (MZRHS), the umbrella organization spearheading the Cauvery agitation for the past 18 days, unanimously decided to suspend the agitation after chief minister Siddaramaiah agreed to consider its demand for monetary compensation to farmers who lost their crops due to release of water to Tamil Nadu.
Siddaramaiah called G Made Gowda, president, MZRHS, and assured him that the state government is committed to protecting the interests of the state in the Cauvery dispute and ensuring justice for Karnataka.Also, Siddaramaiah told him the state government would evolve strategies to counter Tamil Nadu.
Initially, Made Gowda refused to withdraw the agitation, saying protests would continue till the state government declared compensation for crop loss. Also, Made Gowda admonished the chief minister about foisting false criminal cases against youths and farmers during the agitation. He wanted the CM to release all the persons arrested in connection with the stir.
Siddaramaiah patiently heard out Made Gowda and assured him that he would discuss the demand of crop compensation with his cabinet colleagues and consider releasing the arrested protesters.
Later, after a discussion with hundreds of protesters and office-bearers of MZRHS, Madegowda announced that the Cauvery agitation would be suspended till September 27, the day the Supreme Court again hears the Cauvery dispute. Made Gowda cautioned the state government that if the apex court again passed an order against Karnataka, the agitation would be restarted and continued till the state gets a permanent solution.
On the last day of the Cauvery agitation, seers of various mutts and activists of various pro-Kannada organization held a protest. Murughamutt seer Shivamurthy Murugharajendra Swamy said a unified fight in all inter-state disputes would help Karnataka get justice.
"Differences between us will prolong the fight against injustice. Unity among politicians is importance in these trying moments," he said.