Why protests over Cauvery water sharing refuse to die down
The vexed issue of sharing of Cauvery water is on the boil again. This, despite or because of the "balanced verdict" from the Supreme Court. It seemingly brought to a close an imbroglio dating back to 1892 and 1924 vintage agreements, held to be “water sharing were not political arrangements but entered into in public interest”.
Even while the share of Karnataka was enhanced by 14.75 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet, tucking into the share of Tamil Nadu, to provide for 4.75 TMC to Karnakata towards the “increased and increasing needs of the city’s drinking water and industrial requirements", the SC conceded to the clamour from Tamil Nadu for a Cauvery Management Board, albeit christened as a “scheme”. Even 10 TMC was premised on the “ground water resources in the Tamil Nadu Cauvery basin”.
While the farmers in Tamil Nadu welcomed the Cauvery Management Board, their Karnataka brethren hailed "excess" as "success". There were kudos for the top court for its astutely crafted verdict while walking a tight rope of emotional tug of war, as if the national flag was fluttering in the words. The shares of Kerala and Puducherry remained undisturbed in an "arrangement" to last 15 years.
We did not factor in the parochial interests of our politicians, on party lines, camouflaged as state interests. There is absolutely no national outlook in the responses we have seen, reflecting the apex court’s pronouncement that "water was a national asset and no one state can claim a monopoly".
Instead, the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections on May 12, has come as a huge spoilsport, which in an ideal political-legal sphere, it ought not to have been.
Karnataka is seeking to torpedo the Cauvery Management Board within the six-week timeline. The language each has employed is meant to placate their "bases"/"base instincts". The Tamil Nadu government, already accused of being a B-team of the BJP, has announced its decision to move for contempt - we heard an expunged remark in the Rajya Sabha threatening the worst - and the cabinet announcing a fast.
Of course, the Opposition is having a field day. There are suggestions to legislative representatives to quit, gherao to prevent the prime minister from entering the state and many more variants. What is going on? Where are we heading as a constitutionally abiding nation compelled to follow the Supreme Court verdict as the law of the land under Article 141 of the Constitution of India?
Tamil Nadu is known to be a politically alive state. It is in its very DNA. Unfortunately, this time around, substance in the political rhetoric has added menace. The central government is accused of partisanship in playing politics since it is seen to be unwilling to honour the Cauvery verdict.
Already, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramiah has let the cat among the pigeons by his recommendation to the central government to recognise Lingayats as a minority religion in the state (constitutionally, a wobbly recommendation). Be that as it may, the BJP cannot afford to burn the bridges on the sensitive Cauvery water-sharing?
The Modi administration may have hit upon the circuitous route by delaying to constitute the Cauvery Management Board. It does appear as if the BJP is caught in a bind and would not like to be seen as conceding to form the board, on its own, and therefore is seeking to gain time beyond May 12, by which time Karnataka voters may have made their choice.
It’s politics. Nothing but unalloyed politics. That's such a shame.