CJI asks people of Tamil Nadu to maintain calm

"Please convey our message. Ask the people of Tamil Nadu to maintain peace and calm. We will take care of the Cauvery issue," Justice Dipak Misra told the lawyer who represents Tamil Nadu on the water sharing issue.

In February, the Supreme Court reduced Tamil Nadu's share of water from the river Cauvery and said Karnataka would receive a bigger share. The court has also ordered that the centre form the Cauvery management board that would manage the sharing of water in six weeks.

As the deadline expired, the Tamil Nadu government has filed a petition that seeks action against the centre for contempt of court. The petition will be heard on April 9. The centre has also moved court, seeking three months to implement the order due to Karnataka assembly elections.

But protests have escalated across Tamil Nadu against the centre's delay in forming the board.

The ruling AIADMK observed a day-long hunger strike across Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, with Chief Minister EK Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam joining in. The opposition DMK has planned state-wide protests.

The issue has also found resonance in parliament, with lawmakers from the AIADMK shouting slogans and demanding an early resolution.

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan, who formed his political party in February, has ratcheted up his campaign against the centre and the ruling AIADMK. Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held next month and the BJP is pulling out all stops to wrest the only state it ruled in the south back from the Congress.