Bengaluru, DHNS: JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should take a tough stand on the Cauvery issue without worrying about losing power.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, he said when there is no water in the Cauvery basin, the question of releasing water should not arise before the government. “Power is not permanent. Even if the chief minister loses power, it is alright. Let all 28 Karnataka members of Parliament also resign as a mark of protest against the Supreme Court order,” he said.

Kumaraswamy said that a fortnight ago, he had suggested to the government not to release water to Tamil Nadu. He also said he had suggested informing the court that the government has no faith in the bench which is hearing the case.

“Let them (court) dismiss the government. Should we continue to remain in the federal system despite such injustice being meted out to us? We have repeatedly asked the court and the Centre to study the water levels in both the states before arriving at any decision. But we are not being heard. The court has erred in giving such a judgement. The tribunal has said 80 tmcft of water should flow to Biligundlu as natural flow. When there is no water, how can such a direction be implemented? Such directions are most unscientific,” he said.

Kumaraswamy, who looked agitated over the court directions, said the government must form a new panel of legal advisers who can help the government handle the case. There are retired IAS officers who have knowledge about the Cauvery issue. The government must make use of their expertise, he added.

He insisted that the Centre play a decisive role and solve the crisis. The state’s special leave petition of April 2007 is coming up for hearing on October 18. When such is the case, how can the attorney general accept the order to form the Cauvery Management Board, he asked.

He also appealed to the people not to agitate on the streets and cause inconvenience to the public. The economy has taken a hit in places where agitations have been going on for weeks. People like H D?Deve Gowda should go on a peaceful hunger strike, if they want to protest the court order, he added