Siddaramaiah appeals to Jayalalithaa to ensure safety of Kannadigas on Friday

Bengaluru [India], Sept. 15 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to take all measures to ensure the safety of Kannadigas residing in Tamil Nadu during Friday shutdown. In a letter to Jayalalithaa, he said, "I had pointed out to you in any previous letter of 12.09.2016 that incidents of violence against Kannada speaking people in Tamil Nadu would incite passions threatening peace in our state. Unfortunately, violence erupted on 12th despite all precautions taken by us. However, situation was brought under control within hours. We have booked a large number of cases against 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." Siddaramaiah expressed concern over the loss of property and violence caused by the shutdown and said that none in the state would benefit from the agitation. He said that till the time the matter of Cauvery water sharing is being adjudicated by the courts and is looked into by the Cauvery Supervisory Committee, no one would get benefit through shutdown and agitations. "I would request you to kindly take all steps to ensure that during the so called bandh on 16.09.2016 no untoward incident takes place and the lives and properties of Kannada speaking people in Tamil Nadu are protected. We have issued an advisory to the media to report responsibly the incidents relating to the Cauvery agitation. I would request you to kindly do the same. I have instructed my Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Director General of Police to be in touch with your authorities. I would request you to kindly advice your officers to be in touch with their counterparts in Karnataka," he added. A single bench of the Supreme Court, expressed its dismay over people taking the law into their own hands, and insisted the state authorities to take immediate preventive action. Justice Deepak Misra observed that "it is the duty of states to see that no agitation and no damage take place. We expect the people from both states to maintain peace, harmony and above all dignity and respect for the law. We sincerely hope wisdom shall prevail over authorities in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu." The top court has also asked the counsels of both states to go through the petition and file their responses by September 20. The court has listed the PIL for further hearing on September 20. Activist Shivkumar, who is a petitioner in the case, has sought the apex court's intervention. Yesterday, Shivkumar had appealed to a bench headed by Chief Justice T. S. Thakur to hear the matter related to the two states urgently, adding that on September 15, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu would be observing state-wide shutdowns. He sought the apex court's direction to the Centre and both states to take strict action against those who are involved in violence and to provide security to private and public properties and citizens of both states. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier urged the protesters not to damage public property, adding that the order of the Supreme Court is hard to follow, but "we will still follow it". The apex court had on Monday modified its September 5 order, directing the Karnataka government to release 15000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. It directed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government to release 12000 cusecs of water for farmers. (ANI)