Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra has questioned the reported release of about two TMC of water from the Narayanapura Reservoir to Telangana, saying the state government must explain who authorised the decision and the basis for releasing water while farmers and residents face shortages.
Speaking at a press conference in Vijayapura on Friday, Vijayendra said information had emerged that the process of releasing water to Telangana had begun. He argued that the decision did not adequately consider Karnataka’s interests and demanded transparent details on the quantity released, the authority responsible and the grounds on which the water allocation was made.
Vijayendra said people in several parts of Karnataka were facing shortages of drinking water and fodder for livestock. He called on the government to ensure that any water release did not harm farmers’ interests and to make public the relevant information about the decision. His remarks were reported by Prajavani; the report did not include a response from the Karnataka government or Telangana authorities.
The BJP state president also alleged that the Congress government was creating an atmosphere of intimidation by registering first information reports against BJP workers who had submitted Form 7 applications under the electoral process. He said filing applications under Election Commission rules should not be portrayed as a criminal act for political reasons and referred to a case in which a court stay had reportedly been obtained. He demanded that the government stop targeting BJP workers through criminal cases.
The Form 7 issue is separate from the water-release dispute but formed part of Vijayendra’s broader criticism of the state government. He accused the administration of diverting public attention from farmers’ problems by pursuing cases against opposition workers. He also said the BJP did not need to bring down the Congress government and that voters would judge the administration over its handling of public problems.
Vijayendra sought a farm-loan waiver in Karnataka on the lines of measures he said were being taken in neighbouring Maharashtra. He also demanded payment of pending incentives announced during the tenure of former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa for the dairy sector, along with an additional incentive of ₹5 per litre for milk producers for at least five months until the drought ended.
He said farmers were dealing with crop losses, debt and water shortages, and demanded compensation of ₹50,000 per hectare, a waiver of agricultural loans up to ₹5 lakh and eight hours of three-phase electricity supply every day for farming activities. He also criticised the government’s record on filling vacancies, alleging that a promise to fill 2.5 lakh government posts within a year of taking office had not been met adequately.
The report records Vijayendra’s allegations and demands but does not establish the official status, authorisation or operational details of the reported water release from Narayanapura Reservoir. Clarification from the Karnataka government and the concerned water-management authorities would determine the basis and terms of the release.
