Published Jul 31, 2026 | 3:58 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 31, 2026 | 3:58 PM
C Joseph Vijay and DK Shivakumar
Synopsis: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has urged his Tamil Nadu counterpart, C Joseph Vijay, to defer his proposed visit to Karnataka, citing the tense atmosphere following recent Cauvery water-sharing proceedings. The appeal came after pro-Kannada organisations called for a statewide bandh and warned of protests over any fresh demand for Cauvery water during the proposed meeting.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday, 31 July, appealed to his Tamil Nadu counterpart, C Joseph Vijay, to postpone his proposed visit to Karnataka, citing the prevailing atmosphere following the recent proceedings of the Cauvery Water Commission (CWC) and the Cauvery Management Authority (CMA).
Shivakumar said the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Office had sought a meeting to discuss inter-state issues. Karnataka accepted the request and scheduled the meeting for 3 August.
However, on Friday, pro-Kannada organisations called for a statewide bandh on 13 August over the Cauvery water-sharing issue. Activist and MLC Vatal Nagaraj warned of widespread protests if Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay sought Cauvery water during the proposed meeting.
In the wake of these developments, Shivakumar said the meeting should be deferred until the situation became more “cool, calm and cordial.”
“I want both the states to benefit from the discussions. I do not want any bitterness between us,” he said, adding that Karnataka remained willing to engage in dialogue with Tamil Nadu at an appropriate time.
Shivakumar urged the organisations that have called for a bandh to reconsider, saying such protests would inconvenience the public and would not resolve the dispute.
He added that farmers in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu deserved protection and said his government did not intend to disobey any court order.
Before deciding its next course of action, however, the state would convene an all-party meeting, seek legal advice, and consult all stakeholders in the coming days, the Chief Minister said.
On the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir, Shivakumar maintained that the project would benefit Tamil Nadu by regulating water flows, while Karnataka’s primary benefit would be hydropower generation.
He said the project was a balancing reservoir and was not intended for additional water utilisation.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
