Cauvery row: Karnataka strikes defiant note, refuses to release water to Tamil Nadu

Striking a defiant note by refusing to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that since the Supreme Court has asked the centre to felicitate talks between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, his government would like to wait for meeting with Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti until Thursday.

“Uma Bharti has called a meeting tomorrow at 11:30am in Delhi of both CMs (TN and Karnataka). Releasing of water deferred till meeting with Union Minister Uma Bharti. We'll take decision later,” a defiant Siddaramaiah said.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had asked the Karnataka government to release 6000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for two days to show its bona fide. The apex court had said that no state in a federal structure like India can say no to the Supreme Court order and indulge in a fight with another state.

The Centre would try to resolve the Cauvery water issue and will call a meeting between the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the next two days, Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi had told the court.

The court had granted permission to the Centre to call a meeting between Jayalalithaa and Siddaramiah and submit a report on Friday. The Supreme Court also said that it won’t consider the Karnataka Assembly resolution not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.