K'taka govt calls all-party meeting on Cauvery dispute Aug 2
Bengaluru, July 30
Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Thursday announced that an all-party meeting will be held on August 2 at his official residence, Krishna, to discuss the Cauvery water dispute and chart the state's future course of action.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Shivakumar said invitations had been extended to all former Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament from the Cauvery catchment region, leaders of all political parties, and floor leaders to participate in the meeting.
"We will discuss the future course of action in the all-party meeting. Today, Karnataka is presenting its case before the authorities, and senior officers are making submissions on behalf of the state. I have been monitoring the developments closely," he said.
The Chief Minister said leaders across party lines, including Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and V. Somanna, former Chief Ministers, and BJP MPs Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar, had extended their support in safeguarding Karnataka's interests.
"I must acknowledge that all our MPs and Union Ministers are extending cooperation beyond political considerations to protect the interests of the state," Shivakumar said.
Responding to suggestions to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin that he should engage with the Union government rather than meeting him on the issue, Shivakumar declined to comment, saying he did not want to react to those remarks.
"We do not want confrontation. There is a law of the land, and we must respect each other and the sentiments of the people on both sides. This is one country," he said.
On the delay in expanding the Karnataka Cabinet and criticism from BJP State President and MLA B. Y. Vijayendra, Shivakumar took a swipe at the BJP leader and his father, former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa.
"Only B. Y. Vijayendra's father, B. S. Yediyurappa, has had the opportunity to serve as Chief Minister for a long period without a cabinet. They have enjoyed power as well," Shivakumar remarked.
However, when asked about the timeline for the long-pending Cabinet expansion, the Chief Minister declined to provide any details and instead reiterated the need to focus on the Cauvery issue.
The announcement of the all-party meeting comes amid heightened tensions over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute following the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's direction to Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
The issue has triggered protests across several parts of the state, with Kannada organisations and farmers' groups demanding that the government protect Karnataka's drinking water interests.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good step to bring all parties together. But Shivakumar's dig at Yediyurappa and cabinet expansion delays—this is classic political drama. Meanwhile, our farmers have to watch their crops wilt because of water scarcity. The real issue is: can we sustain both Karnataka's drinking water needs and TN's demands? We need a scientific solution, not just political posturing. 😔
I appreciate the CM's balanced tone—'We do not want confrontation. This is one country.' That's the spirit, man! But Cauvery is like a family dispute that never ends. Every summer, same story. Kudos to former CMs like Bommai and Shettar for supporting across party lines. Maybe this all-party meet can actually propose a long-term water sharing pact based on rainfall patterns. 🤔
Honestly, all-party meetings are just a way to share blame. When did any such meeting ever solve Cauvery? The real decision is in the Supreme Court and CWRC. Our CM should focus on presenting strong technical data in court—like groundwater levels and rainfall patterns—instead of calling a bunch of politicians who'll argue for hours. Farmers in Mandya are already protesting—time is running out! 🕒
As a Kannadiga living abroad, I always get emotional about Cauvery. This water is our lifeline—for drinking, for crops in Kharif season. Shivakumar saying 'respect each other and sentiments' is right. But the delay in cabinet expansion shows his priorities are twisted. First manage the state, then fight water wars. Still, all-party unity is better than infighting. Jai Karnataka! 💪
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