New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) general secretary KC Tyagi on Thursday blamed the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in Karnataka for politicising the Cauvery water dispute with Tamil Nadu.
"The BJP during the elections are trying to keep everybody in Karnataka guessing on the water issue. The Centre wants to solve the problem while the Karnataka BJP wants the problem to remain," Tyagi told ANI.
The Karnataka Cabinet has decided to hold a special session of the legislative assembly on September 23, which will discuss the state's response to Tuesday's Supreme Court order. Till the assembly reaches a decision, the Cabinet has decided to defer the release of water.
Former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy expressed the view that no Cauvery water should be released to Tamil Nadu now despite the Supreme Court order.
Karnataka is opposing the release of more water, claiming that with the rainfall being deficient, there is not enough water for drinking purposes. More than 80 percent of the water requirements of key cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru are met from the Cauvery waters.
The livelihood of more than four lakh farmers and 16 lakh farm labourers in Tamil Nadu are dependent on the release of Cauvery water. The apex court earlier this week directed Karnataka to supply 6,000 cusecs daily to Tamil Nadu till the next hearing.
