AIADMK chief and Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami launched a scathing attack against the Karnataka government for refusing to comply with a directive from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release water to Tamil Nadu. On Friday, he also criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin for his alleged inaction in addressing the inter-state river dispute.
Karnataka announced earlier in the day that it would not release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, despite the CWRC's directive to release one tmcft of water daily until the end of the month. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that an appeal would be filed against the CWRC's order and convened an all-party meeting on Sunday to discuss the next steps.
Following this, Palaniswami condemned Karnataka's refusal to adhere to the CWRC's directive as "strongly condemnable" in a post on social media platform X. "It is not acceptable for Karnataka to remain adamant by refusing to accept an order passed keeping in mind the views of the states where the Cauvery river flows," he asserted.
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The AIADMK leader also accused Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Stalin of prioritizing publicity over the state's interests. He claimed that Stalin was compromising Tamil Nadu's livelihood rights in exchange for the Congress party's support, which is an ally of the ruling DMK. "This shows Stalin's continued inaction," Palaniswami alleged, arguing that while Stalin speaks grandly about state rights in public, he fails to act effectively, thus endangering the livelihoods of people in the Cauvery delta region.
Palaniswami urged Chief Minister Stalin to take decisive action to secure Tamil Nadu's rightful share of Cauvery water, emphasising the welfare of the state's farmers. He called for the government to prioritize the state's interests and ensure that Tamil Nadu receives its due share of water from the Cauvery river.