Previous BJP govt had filed affidavit on releasing 10,000 cusecs of water: Deputy CM Shivakumar

BENGALURU: After the Supreme Court setback in the Cauvery issue, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar sought to put the blame on the previous BJP government saying that they had filed an affidavit in the top court to release 10,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu.

Holding up copies of news reports, Shivakumar said former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and B S Yediyurappa were politicising the Cauvery issue now. “We have hired the same legal team which was arguing the case on behalf of the state during the tenures of H D Kumaraswamy, Basavaraj Bommai and Yediyurappa. Now, the Supreme Court has directed us to go back to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA)”, he said.

Defending his government, Shivakumar said that after Tamil Nadu sought release of 24,000 cusecs of water, the state officials had agreed to release 10,000 cusecs daily.

“The Supreme Court has dismissed both our and Tamil Nadu’s appeals and directed us to release water till September 27. We had hoped that there will be good rains, but it has happened. We had initially thought that we will make our farmers understand, but then we decided against it and provided water for irrigation. Earlier too, such situations had arisen during the times of S M Krishna, S Bangarappa, H D Deve Gowda also”, he said.

“I have the capacity to answer everyone, but I will not politicise the issue. Today, actors and Kannada activists are angry, and seers are coming out on the Cauvery issue. Where were these people when I took out the Mekedatu padayatra? I appeal to the BJP friends, the Mekedatu project is the answer to the issue”, the Deputy CM said.

On the issue of having three Deputy CMs, as suggested by minister Rajanna, Shivakumar said, “Our party high command made me Deputy CM. Nothing can be said about people who have aspirations. Everybody knows whether Shivakumar will soften or not”, he quipped.