BALLARI: “Stop releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. We are with you. If you (government) decide to release water, then BJP will not extend its cooperation in future. This is our party's stand,” cautioned K.S. Eshwarappa, senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council.

He also urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to prove that he was pro-farmer by adopting a firm stand on not releasing water to Tamil Nadu at this juncture and protect the interests of both the state and the farmers.

Mr. Eshwarappa, who was in Ballari to organise support for the ‘Sangolli Rayanna Brigade’, told reporters here on Thursday that the state was facing drinking water shortage due to insufficient rains and yet had abided by the Supreme Court order. However, the state was not in a position to deprive citizens drinking water and continue to release water to Tamil Nadu.

He said the BJP would attend in the special legislature session on Friday and reiterate its stand, besides urging the state government to adopt a firm stand. “In the event of any contempt of court arising out of the stand taken by the government, BJP legislators will support Mr. Siddarmaiah and will be ready to go to jail with him," he said.

Defending his party’s decision to boycott the all party meeting convened on Wednesday, Mr. Eshwarappa said that BJP did attend all party meetings convened earlier on four occasions and had urged the government not to release water to Tamil Nadu. But, the government chose to release water. “If our suggestions, aimed at protecting interest of farmers, is not considered, then what is the point in attending the meeting. So, we boycotted it,” he said.

Taking a dig at Janata Dal (S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy for criticising BJP for boycotting the all party meeting, he shot back by saying that Mr. Kumarawamy was only politicising the issue and added that he (Mr. Kumaraswamy) had not attended a meeting convened earlier.