Karnataka minister N Chaluvaraya Swamy on Wednesday said the state government was fully aware of the concerns of farmers in Mandya and other parts of the Cauvery basin over the ongoing water-sharing issue, and urged the farming community to remain patient until the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) issues its order.
Responding to protests by farmers in Mandya and other areas of the Cauvery belt, Chaluvaraya Swamy said the government understood the difficulties faced by farmers and stressed that the administration was not working against their interests.
"I know the farmers of Mandya and the Kaveri belt are protesting, but we have to wait for the CWMA order. We are not against the farmers. We know the problems of the farmers of Mandya and other places," the Minister told reporters.
He said Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was also closely monitoring the situation and was aware of the concerns being raised by farmers. Swamy pointed out that the Chief Minister himself came from the Cauvery region and was therefore familiar with the difficulties faced by farmers dependent on the river for irrigation.
"Chief Minister is also very much aware, as he also comes from the same belt. Today Chief Minister is going to Delhi and he is also expected to meet the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in Chennai. Let's hope for the best," he said.
The Cauvery water dispute has repeatedly triggered political and public tensions between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with farmers in the Cauvery basin closely monitoring decisions relating to the release and distribution of river water. Farmers in Mandya and neighbouring areas have raised concerns over the availability of water for agricultural activities, particularly amid competing demands from the two states.
The CWMA plays a key role in implementing the decisions of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court in relation to the sharing and release of Cauvery waters between the basin states. Karnataka has maintained that the availability of water in its reservoirs and the requirements of its farmers must be taken into account while determining releases.
Against this backdrop, Chaluvaraya Swamy appealed to the protesting farmers to await the authority's decision, indicating that the state government would assess the situation based on the order.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Minister also criticised former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy over his reported remarks concerning Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Describing Kumaraswamy's remarks as "shameful" and "obnoxious", Chaluvaraya Swamy said a leader who had served twice as Karnataka Chief Minister and had also held the position of a Union Minister should exercise greater restraint while making public statements.
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"It is a shameful statement by a person like Kumaraswamy. He was the Chief Minister of Karnataka and comes from such a big family. Making statements in such a way is very shameful," he said.
Swamy further defended Sonia Gandhi's status as an Indian citizen and objected to remarks concerning her background and marriage. "It is Sonia Gandhi or anybody she's married to Indian and she has become Indian. Who marry to other place, they will belong to that place. Being a Chief Minister for two times and Union Minister, making such derogatory statement is obnoxious," he said.
The Minister's comments come amid heightened political exchanges in Karnataka, with the Cauvery water issue continuing to remain a sensitive matter for farmers, political parties and the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
For now, the Karnataka government is awaiting the CWMA's direction while seeking to address concerns among farmers and manage the competing demands surrounding the Cauvery river.
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