Urged CM to represent state before Cauvery tribunal more effectively: Karnataka BJP chief

BENGALURU: Amid escalating tensions over the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president B Y Vijayendra said that they have urged the Chief Minister to represent more effectively before the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in Delhi whenever the meeting is called.

“As far as the Tamil Nadu government is concerned, we are not bothered about what they will discuss but we have urged the CM to represent before the tribunal more effectively in Delhi whenever the meeting is called…,” Vijayendra said on Tuesday.

Vijayendra said that in the last monsoon season, Karnataka had released more water than expected and the BJP has already informed the Chief Minister not to compromise on farmers’ interest in the state.

“During the last monsoon season also, Karnataka abided by what the tribunal ordered. Our government had released more water than they had expected… In last week’s all-party meeting, the BJP clearly informed the CM that our farmer interests should not be compromised…,” Vijayendra said.

Slamming the Congress party, the BJP leader said that the Yediyurappa government had released more funds for backward communities than the Siddaramaiah government. “Regarding the release of funds for the backward communities, this government has done grave injustice. In fact, the previous government during BS Yediyurappa released more funds for the upliftment of Dalits and backward classes…”, Vijayendra said.

Lashing out at the Congress government over the alleged Maharishi Valmiki ST Corporation Board scam, Vijayendra said, “The money meant for the upliftment of Dalits has been diverted to their guarantees. At the same time, money meant for the development of the Valmiki community has been exploited, looted, and used for the Lok Sabha elections…”

Earlier in the day, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar expressed openness to dialogue and cooperation, emphasising the need for mutual understanding over the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

“Tamil Nadu has every right to meet as we meet. We don’t object to their meeting. It is their duty”, Shivakumar stated, addressing the ongoing discussions on water allocations. He refrained from direct comments on Tamil Nadu’s recent actions, but highlighted positive developments in water inflow in the Cauvery region.

“There is more than 50,000 cusecs inflow in the Cauvery region. And whatever is there, we are allowing to go out of Harangi dam. I think more than 20,000 cusecs were going out of Harangi and other places. If God permits us all, our problems will be sorted out”, Shivakumar remarked optimistically, reflecting on recent water flow patterns amid regional concerns.

In an appeal directed towards Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar urged cooperation for the mutual benefit of both states. “But one thing I would like to appeal to Tamil Nadu. For your interest and our interest, more than our interest is your interest, you just permit us. Whatever storage we do, we will give that water to you only”, he asserted, underscoring Karnataka’s commitment to fair water management.

“We will cooperate in whatever way we can,” Shivakumar assured, signalling readiness to engage constructively despite the ongoing disagreements over water sharing. (ANI)