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Farmer may have been pushed into Kabini reservoir: Jaya

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday said that the Karnataka farmer, who had drowned in the Kabini reservoir on Wednesday, might have been pushed.

Reports had said that Guruswamy, member of Beechanahalli Gram Panchayat, had committed suicide to protest against the release of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu. Following the incident, the Karnataka Cabinet met on Thursday and decided to suspend the release of water.

"My information is that someone may have pushed him into the reservoir to create a law and order problem, and thus deny Tamil Nadu its share of the Cauvery waters," Jayalalithaa said after a meeting of the state Cabinet on Thursday.

The Cabinet had decided to call an all-party meeting on Friday to discuss the issue, she said.

Jayalalithaa questioned the Karnataka government's decision to stop water citing law and order problems. "If he cannot control the law and order situation, Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna should quit, or he should be removed," she said.

The chief minister claimed that the Krishna government was instigating violence in Karnataka to use it as an excuse to deny the waters of Cauvery to Tamil Nadu.

She said that her government would move the Supreme Court on Friday with a contempt of court petition against Karnataka.

The Supreme Court had on September 3 ordered Karnataka to release 1.25 tmcft [thousand million cubic feet] of water to Tamil Nadu everyday till the Cauvery River Authority took a decision on the issue. As per the SC directive, the CRA met on September 8 and revised the quantity of water to be released to 0.8 tmcft.

"I have sought an appointment with the Prime Minister [Atal Bihari Vajpayee]. If it is confirmed, I will lead a delegation of leaders of all parties, and Tamil Nadu MPs, to Delhi on Saturday," the chief minister said.

Cauvery Water Dispute: The Complete Coverage

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