HD Kumaraswamy's call for Cauvery talks evokes mixed reactions

Chennai: Karnataka Chief Minister designate and JD (S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy’s suggestion favouring bilateral talks to resolve the Cauvery issue, has appeared to have stirred a hornet’s nest. Parties including the BJP and PMK have demanded the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on Cauvery, while the ruling AIADMK insisted that everyone is bound to abide by the Supreme Court judgment.

Strongly objecting to Kumaraswamy remarks, PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss said such a move would only complicate the issue. “The suggestion is very dangerous, as the Central government is in the process of constituting the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) following the Supreme Court’s intervention. A permanent solution to the issue will emerge only if Karnataka government honours the decision of the CMB,” Dr. Ramadoss said reacting to the JD (S) leader’s suggestion for bilateral talks between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, during his visit to the temple town of Srirangam on Sunday.

Interestingly, DMK working president M. K. Stalin while congratulating Mr  Kumaraswamy, too favoured bilateral talks to resolve the issue. “Cordial ties should be created with the new secular government to be formed in Karnataka soon and a solution hammered out through talks,” Mr Stalin had said at a marriage function in Mayiladuthurai on Sunday.

  Accusing the DMK of enacting a “farce” on the Cauvery issue, BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan sought to know why those agitating for the formation of CMB had not objected to Kumaraswamy’s contention that TN would get Cauvery water only if Karnataka receives bounteous rains. “Does not the DMK lack the guts to criticise the Congress alliance? Is it not enacting a farce on the Cauvery issue,” she asked.

 Asked if Karnataka will release water, fisheries minister D. Jayakumar told reporters here on Monday that everyone is bound to abide by the Supreme Court judgment. “No state will have the right to release water from dams, except the Cauvery authority which alone decides on water release,” he said.