Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has appealed to his TN counterpart J Jayalalithaa to take measures to ensure safety of people from Karnataka in TN state during the shutdown on Friday.
In the letter dated Thursday, Siddaramaiah wrote “I am deeply concerned that certain organisations have called for a bandh in Tamil Nadu tomorrow. You would appreciate that any escalation of animosity between the two states would be to the collective detriments of both the states.”
He added that the Karnataka police have booked cases against the “rioters” to arrest the violence.
On September 12, after the Supreme Court order changing the quantum of water Karnataka had to release to TN, violence erupted in parts of the state, including the capital Bengaluru. Many vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration, and 45 buses belonging to Salem-based KPN Travels were burnt down.
Siddaramaiah said in the letter, "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."
He urged Jayalalithaa to issue an advisory to the media to report responsibly on the Cauvery agitation just like his government had done on Monday.
"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.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah had urged the Karnataka media, especially the Kannada television news channels to exercise restraint while telecasting visuals of violence which “could cause incitement”.