Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, 12 August launched a sharp attack on the Karnataka government, alleging that it had grossly mishandled the Cauvery water dispute and systematically sidelined the state's own legal experts. Speaking at an emergency press conference in New Delhi, Kumaraswamy accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his administration of failing to mount an adequate legal and administrative defence of Karnataka's water interests.

Legal Experts Sidelined, Allege Critics

Kumaraswamy alleged that senior lawyers representing Karnataka before the Supreme Court and various Cauvery authorities were not being accorded due respect by the state government. He specifically referred to claims that senior advocate Mohan Katarki was not provided a chair during a meeting of Karnataka MPs convened by Chief Minister Shivakumar at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi, and subsequently walked out of the meeting.

Kumaraswamy further alleged that legal experts were given inadequate importance at an all-party meeting held at the Krishna office in Bengaluru. 'When such meetings are convened, the legal and technical aspects should be placed before the participants. The Chief Minister should have sought the views of the legal experts at the beginning of the meeting. Ignoring legal experts in this manner shows a lack of foresight and preparation,' he said.

CWMA and CWRC Order Water Release

The minister pointed out that both the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had recommended that Karnataka release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. He alleged that Tamil Nadu had strategically moved before the Cauvery authorities as early as May, while Karnataka was expected to begin releasing water only from June — a lag he described as a critical failure of preparation.

Kumaraswamy also questioned the state's claim of transparency in deciding water releases. 'Does transparency mean releasing water to Tamil Nadu? If water is released because there has been rainfall and inflows into the reservoirs have increased, what will happen in the coming days?' he asked.

Farmers Bear the Cost, Says Kumaraswamy

Kumaraswamy alleged that instead of strengthening Karnataka's legal position, Chief Minister Shivakumar had advised farmers in the Cauvery and Krishna basin regions against taking up water-intensive crops. 'The loss was suffered by our farmers. Even crops that had already been cultivated were lost due to lack of water,' he said.

He also flagged the absence of a Supreme Court-approved distress-sharing formula, alleging that Karnataka had failed to press for one before the Cauvery authorities. 'No final order has so far been issued by the Supreme Court on a distress formula,' he noted, arguing the state should have been more proactive.

Political Blame and What Comes Next

Kumaraswamy took a pointed political jab at Shivakumar, noting that the Chief Minister had served as Water Resources Minister for three years before assuming the top post. 'What was he doing during that period?' he questioned. He also alleged that the Congress-led government was prioritising Cabinet expansion and internal party matters — including meetings with senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal, and Randeep Singh Surjewala — over Karnataka's water interests.

The minister urged the Karnataka government to anticipate Tamil Nadu's next legal and administrative moves rather than reacting after a crisis emerges. 'Do not wait for a crisis to prepare. Take the necessary precautionary measures and do not repeat the mistakes made so far,' he said. MP M. Mallesh Babu, MLA Samruddhi Manjunath, and senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader B.D. Patil from Vijayapura district were present at the press conference. With the dispute still unresolved before the Supreme Court, the coming weeks are expected to see intensified legal activity from both states.