Karnataka Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka on Friday, 10 July accused the state's Congress government of betraying farmers in the Cauvery basin by continuing to release water to Tamil Nadu even as reservoirs run low and farmlands lie parched. Ashoka warned that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), backed by thousands of farmers, would lay siege to the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir if the government did not halt the releases and convene an Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) meeting immediately.

The Cauvery Crisis: What Ashoka Alleged

In a strongly worded statement, Ashoka alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was, in his words, 'washing his hands in the tears of farmers' while allowing water to flow to the neighbouring state for what he described as political reasons. He claimed the Congress government was operating under a 'secret understanding' with Tamil Nadu — an allegation the government has not publicly addressed.

Ashoka pointed to inadequate rainfall, drying lakes and canals, and parched farmlands across the Cauvery basin as evidence that continued releases were untenable. He said farmers in Mandya were already standing in the river in protest and urged Chief Minister Shivakumar to visit the district and witness their anger firsthand.

Key Demands from the BJP

Ashoka laid out a set of immediate demands: the government must stop releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, convene an ICC meeting to assess actual reservoir levels, and divert water to lakes, tanks, and canals across villages to protect standing crops. He described the ICC meeting as non-negotiable, saying it was the minimum step needed to reassure farmers about water availability for the season.

Issuing what he called a 'final warning,' Ashoka said the BJP would mobilise farmers from across the Cauvery basin for an intensified agitation culminating in a siege of the KRS reservoir if these demands were not met.

BPL Food Scheme Row: A Second Front

Ashoka also used the occasion to attack the Congress government over what he described as the shelving of the Indira Food Kit scheme, which was to provide Below Poverty Line (BPL) families with toor dal, cooking oil, and sugar. He alleged that despite months of publicity, the tender process had not been finalised even after eight months, with internal disputes over contracts leading to litigation and administrative delays.

He further alleged that the scheme had been effectively abandoned because of unresolved 'commission' issues — a charge the government has not responded to on record. Ashoka also accused the Congress of failing to deliver the promised additional 5 kg of rice under the Anna Bhagya scheme, saying the government had instead announced cash in lieu of the quantity it could not supply.

According to Ashoka, the state treasury has been strained by guarantee schemes, leaving the government unable to spend approximately ₹500 crore per month needed to provide nutrition kits to BPL cardholders. He demanded that all promised benefits be delivered immediately and warned of a statewide BJP agitation over what he termed the government's 'U-turn' and 'deceptive policies.'

Broader Context: A Perennial Dispute

The Cauvery water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is one of India's longest-running inter-state water conflicts, with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal having issued its final award in 2007. Tensions routinely peak during deficit monsoon years when Karnataka's reservoirs — including KRS — fall below seasonal norms, making any mandated release politically and agriculturally contentious. This year's flare-up follows a pattern seen in 2016 and 2023, when similar standoffs triggered protests and political brinkmanship.

With the monsoon season still unfolding and reservoir levels under scrutiny, the coming weeks will determine whether the BJP's ultimatum translates into a sustained agitation or recedes as water levels recover.