Amidst escalating tensions over the Cauvery water dispute, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar emphasised the importance of cooperation between the states while acknowledging Tamil Nadu's right to hold discussions on the issue. His statements come as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is set to convene an all-party meeting to decide the next steps on Cauvery waste dispute.
"Tamil Nadu has every right to meet as we meet. We don't object to their meeting. It is their duty. I don't want to comment on that," Shivakumar said.
He highlighted the significant inflow of water in the Cauvery region and appealed to Tamil Nadu to allow water storage. "From yesterday, I am getting good inflow. More than 50,000 inflow in the Cauvery region. And whatever is there, we are allowing to go out of Harangi. I think more than 20,000 were going out of Harangi and other places," he stated.
Further, Shivakumar also made a humble appeal on behalf of the people of Karnataka, urging Tamil Nadu to permit water storage with the assurance that stored water would be released.
Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad expressed hopes for an amicable resolution, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to mediate the issue. "We expect that Tamil Nadu government will understand that we have decided to release some amount of water. I have confidence that better sense will prevail in Tamil Nadu, and instead of an attitude of confrontation, the matter will be resolved amicably," Arshad said.
He further added, "We (DMK-Congress) might be allies but we are ruling our states and are committed to safeguarding the interests of our respective states. We want Mr. Modi to open his eyes and do something about this Cauvery issue."
Earlier, Chief Minister M K Stalin stated on Monday that the Karnataka government's decision to release a reduced amount of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu is strongly condemnable.
On Tuesday, the meeting of legislative party leaders began at 11 am on Tuesday, July 16, at the state secretariat in Chennai, led by TN CM Stalin to decide on the next course of action in the inter-state river dispute.