Cauvery row: CM Siddaramaiah assures protection to Tamils in Karnataka

He also asked the Sangam leaders to petition CM Jayalalithaa to give protection to Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday assured Tamil Sangam of protection for Tamils in the state in the wake of violence in the city following a Supreme Court direction to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water everyday for next ten days to Tamil Nadu.

Siddaramaiah also informed the Sangam leaders, who met him at his residence, that a suo motu case has been filed against culprits who had assaulted a youth Santosh Deena for posting comments on Cauvery issue on Facebook on September 10.

A suo motu case has been filed against the persons who had assaulted Santosh, Sangam president George Damodaran told reporters here.

The youth was allegedly beaten up by culprits as he had questioned Kannada film stars for protesting over Cauvery issue.

Siddaramaiah also asked the Sangam leaders to petition Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to give protection to Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu, Damodaran said.

"We are petitioning the Tamil Nadu chief minister via email," he said.

The chief minister has directed the police to maintain law and order and provide security to Tamils living in the state, the Sangam president said.

Damodaran said he also brought to the notice of the chief minister the "provocative" statement of Narayana Gowda who is heading 'Karnataka Rakshana Vedike'.

Gowda had reportedly said the situation that prevailed in 1991 should prevail and all Tamil films should be stopped from screening to teach them lesson.

In 1991, during Bangarappa's tenure as chief minister, anti-Tamil violence had taken place in Bengaluru in which 18 people had died and hundreds fled.