Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday said the state government remains fully committed to protecting the interests of Karnataka’s farmers and citizens in the ongoing Cauvery water dispute with Tamil Nadu. After chairing an all-party meeting in Bengaluru, he urged pro-Kannada organisations to withdraw the proposed statewide bandh on August 13, saying improved rainfall and political unity had reduced the need for protests. He also confirmed that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay agreed to postpone his Bengaluru visit following Karnataka’s request to help maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

Shivakumar said the government would decide its next legal steps only after consulting senior legal experts, as the dispute continues before the Supreme Court. He reiterated Karnataka’s commitment to safeguarding drinking water needs while complying with legal directions to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. The chief minister also backed the long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, describing it as a long-term solution to the water-sharing issue, while assuring farmers that scientific guidance would be provided based on rainfall and crop conditions.

The all-party meeting, attended by former chief ministers, Union ministers, MPs, opposition leaders and legal experts, unanimously supported the government’s handling of the Cauvery issue and agreed that a bandh would not serve the state’s interests. Shivakumar stressed that Karnataka would continue defending its rights through legal channels while maintaining cordial relations with Tamil Nadu. Emphasising national unity, he said both states must work together despite differences, adding that the government’s top priority remains ensuring adequate drinking water and protecting farmers during the ongoing rainfall deficit.