Cauvery row: TN CM Vijay breaks silence, says legal stand has not changed despite Bengaluru talks move

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.Joseph Vijay broke his silence regarding the revived Cauvery-Mekedatu row on Friday, saying in the Assembly that it is he who moved for talks with Karnataka, hoping for a positive outcome and not changing his state's legal stand.

Responding to the Special Calling Attention notice presented by opposition political parties, including DMK and AIADMK, Vijay said that he called for talks with Karnataka regarding the Cauvery row in hope of a positive outcome, and maintained the state’s legal stand. He said that the government decided on direct talks with Karnataka considering that there might be some possibility of finding a positive solution through talks between the two adjacent states.    

The Chief Minister defended the proposal to visit Bengaluru despite the criticism from opposition by stating that he would be ready even for "humiliation" in order to find a solution to the dispute. For him, the interests of Tamil Nadu are more important than the political career of the Chief Minister himself. Moreover, he mentioned that even enemies can solve disputes through the discussion and Tamil Nadu should use the same method in relation to the neighbour country. However, the discussion did not take place, according to some reports, the meeting that had been supposed to happen on August 3 with the Chief Minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar did not happen due to "unfavourable atmosphere".      

Coming to the question raised by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin as to why the government did not hold an all-party meeting on the dispute, Vijay took a retrospective look at the state's position on the matter dating back to 1969 and stated that there was no change in the government's stand in terms of law. He maintained that an all-party meeting is not at all necessary and told the Opposition not to make the Mekedatu issue political, saying that Tamil Nadu will never compromise its rights on Cauvery waters. He further mentioned that the decision taken by the House unanimously on Mekedatu issue was communicated to the Centre and that his government had written to the Prime Minister quoting the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on this matter.

He also felt emotional about the significance of this issue and said "Cauvery is our lifeline and it is an emotional issue" and that "his government did not have the slightest intention to make politics on this issue." Quoting the former Leader of the Opposition of the Congress Party P.G. Karuthiruman, he said "the issue of Cauvery needs to be handled very carefully."      

This interaction takes place against a backdrop of politics. It came after the arrest of Udhayanidhi Stalin few days ago for his remarks during the Cauvery protest rally in Thanjavur, and amid increasing tensions following the July 30 order issued by the Cauvery Water Management Authority directing Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu's approach to the Supreme Court on August 3.