Cauvery is Tamil Nadu’s right, not Karnataka’s charity: Congress MP Jothimani hits back at D K Shivakumar

Responding to Shivakumar's remarks, Jothimani maintained that Tamil Nadu was neither seeking favours nor depending on Karnataka's generosity for its share of river water. She emphasised that millions of farmers in Tamil Nadu depend on the Cauvery for their livelihoods and that the State would continue defending its interests through constitutional and judicial mechanisms.

The Congress parliamentarian said Tamil Nadu valued cordial relations with neighbouring states but insisted that maintaining friendly ties should not come at the expense of its legitimate water rights. She argued that the Cauvery dispute had persisted for decades despite judicial interventions and the establishment of institutional mechanisms intended to regulate water sharing.

Jothimani accused successive Karnataka governments, irrespective of whether the Congress or BJP was in power, of disregarding judicial decisions and the directions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority. She maintained that Tamil Nadu had consistently relied on legal remedies and would continue pursuing its case before the Supreme Court and the relevant Cauvery water regulatory institutions.

Her remarks assume particular political significance because both Jothimani and Shivakumar belong to the Congress, highlighting the longstanding differences between the party's leadership in the two neighbouring states over the contentious Mekedatu project.

The proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery has remained a major point of disagreement between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka has advocated the project as an important initiative for water storage and drinking water requirements, particularly for Bengaluru, while Tamil Nadu has raised concerns about its potential impact on downstream water availability and existing water-sharing arrangements.

Jothimani also accused the BJP-led Union government of politicising the dispute and favouring Karnataka's position. She alleged that the Narendra Modi government had adopted an approach detrimental to Tamil Nadu's interests, although she expressed confidence that legal institutions would ultimately protect the State's rights.

Rejecting the suggestion that Karnataka could exercise exclusive authority over the river because it flows through its territory, Jothimani stressed the principle of equitable rights among riparian states. She pointed out that rivers crossing administrative boundaries must be governed by established legal arrangements rather than unilateral decisions by upstream governments.

She cited Tamil Nadu's relationship with Keralam and Puducherry to illustrate the need for mutual respect among states sharing river systems. Just as Tamil Nadu expects its rights to be recognised by upstream states, she argued, it must also acknowledge the legitimate interests of downstream regions.

The Congress MP warned that attempts to exceed established boundaries of authority could intensify interstate tensions. She expressed hope that such confrontations could be avoided through respect for judicial decisions, cooperative federalism and recognition of shared water rights.

Despite her criticism of the Karnataka government and the Centre, Jothimani reiterated her faith in the rule of law and the country's judicial system. She asserted that neither the Tamil Nadu government nor its people would abandon their claims over Cauvery water.

Her response has brought renewed attention to the political sensitivities surrounding the Mekedatu project, particularly as Karnataka continues to press for its implementation while Tamil Nadu remains firmly opposed to any development it believes could affect its legally recognised share of Cauvery waters.