Kumaraswamy ready for dialogue with TN on Cauvery

Bangalore, May 15: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today reiterated that he was ready for a dialogue with his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi to resolve the vexed Cauvery River water dispute.

When mediapersons asked him to react on Mr Karunanidhi's remarks on the issue reported in a section of the media, he said he did not want to react as Mr Karunanidhi was very senior to him and experienced.

Reacting sharply in Tamil Nadu Assembly yesterday, Mr Karunanidhi had demanded the Centre to intervene in the issue before a 'war between states erupted'.

He had also alleged that the upper riparian states of Karnataka and Kerala were 'harassing' Tamil Nadu with their 'discriminatory attitude'.

Mr Kumaraswamy said if the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister felt that injustice had been meted out to the people of Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue, he was ready to work to set things right through a dialogue. In the same way, Mr Karunanidhi should also keep in mind that if farmers of Karnataka were not given justice, with regard to sharing of water, he would also have to cooperate, he said.

''I am ready to discuss the issue under the leadership of Mr Karunanidhi and find an amicable solution,'' he added.

Asked whether he would invite Mr Karunanidhi for talks, he said ''it is not needed for the time being.'' On suspension of screening of Tamil films in the state following Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal's final verdict, he said though it was legally incorrect, it involved certain emotional aspects.

However, he did not want to discuss the issue in detail as it was a sensitive subject, he added.

UNI