Thursday, July 21 2005 20:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Asserting that it would not buckle under 'any pressure,' the Karnataka Government today (July 21, 2005) said it was not in a position now to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, where the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagan (AIADMK) has called for a state wide protest on the Cauvery issue tomorrow (July 22, 2005).

Making a statement on the Government's behalf in the Assembly, Minister for Large and Medium Industries P G R Sindhia said it would not 'sacrifice the interests of the farmers or the state and Karnataka will not buckle under any pressure.'

"There is no question of water release. With inflow into the (KRS) reservoir not satisfactory, it does not arise now," Sindhia, a senior minister, said, adding, the Centre had neither contacted the state nor issued any directions to it.

The Minister's statement came in response to the issue raised by 'Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha' member Vatal Nagaraj who said tomorrow's protests called by AIADMK was a 'dangerous development' and accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa of 'politicising' the Cauvery issue.

Nagaraj also staged a walkout saying Jayalalithaa's move was 'highly condemnable.'

Jayalalithaa has called for demonstrations by her party in front of central government's offices in protest against what she said is the 'failure' of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to get Tamil Nadu its due share of Cauvery water as per the interim order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.