A rare direct meeting between the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers could open a new chapter in resolving the decades-old Cauvery water dispute while addressing key inter-state concerns.
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Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said his government is ready to hold discussions with the Tamil Nadu government over the long-standing Cauvery River water-sharing dispute. He stressed that Karnataka believes in dialogue and is willing to engage with all stakeholders to find solutions on important inter-state matters.
Shivakumar made the remarks while speaking to reporters after attending the CEOs’ Breakfast Meeting ahead of the Bengaluru Tech Summit. His comments came after questions were raised about a letter reportedly sent by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister regarding the Cauvery issue.
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While responding to the media, Shivakumar chose not to disclose the contents of the letter sent by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. He explained that the Karnataka government had been busy with Cabinet expansion and other official responsibilities during the week.
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“I do not wish to make the contents of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s letter public at this moment. This week, we have been occupied with Cabinet expansion and other matters. On certain issues, we are ready to speak with everyone, share with everyone, and work with everyone,” he said.
He added that the Karnataka government remains open to communication and cooperation on issues linked to the Cauvery dispute.
Sources familiar with the matter said preparations are being made for a possible meeting between Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
According to insiders, the Tamil Nadu government has requested a meeting. In response, Shivakumar has reportedly invited Chief Minister Vijay to Bengaluru on August 3 for direct discussions. However, it is not yet clear whether the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has accepted the invitation.
If the meeting takes place, it will be one of the rare occasions in several decades that the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu sit together to discuss the Cauvery dispute and other issues affecting both states.
One of the major topics expected to be discussed during the proposed meeting is Karnataka’s planned Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. The project has remained a key point of disagreement between the two neighbouring states.
For many years, governments in Tamil Nadu, whether led by the DMK or the AIADMK, have avoided direct negotiations with Karnataka on the Cauvery issue. Tamil Nadu has consistently maintained that the dispute was already settled through the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and later by the Supreme Court, leaving no need for fresh political negotiations.
Apart from the Cauvery issue, Shivakumar also welcomed the Central government’s decision to hold discussions on the country’s education system following nationwide protests over the NEET examination.
He said it was a positive step that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government had decided to address the concerns after nearly a month of public debate.
“It is encouraging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government have finally come forward to discuss the education system after a month. The entire country has now woken up to the issue. We are all working for the future of the students and youth of this nation,” he said.
The statement comes as protests over NEET continue across the country, with students and opposition parties demanding reforms in the examination and admission process.
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