Tamil Nadu Minister Nirmal Kumar Blames DMK and Karnataka CM Shivakumar for Blocking Cauvery Water Release

Tamil Nadu Energy Resources and Law Minister C. T. R. Nirmal Kumar accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar of colluding to prevent the release of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu. He said the DMK president M. K. Stalin was working with Shivakumar to undermine the state’s water rights and rejected a demand for an all‑party meeting, noting that a resolution on the issue had already been passed unanimously in the Assembly.

Kumar also criticised Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha, asserting that the minister misunderstood the Supreme Court judgment that requires consent of the lower riparian states before any diversion. He highlighted that multiple petitions filed by different parties in the High Court and Supreme Court could weaken Tamil Nadu’s case and warned that the opposition’s actions were creating confusion for the public.

The minister reiterated that the state government would file a petition in the Supreme Court to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery water, while accusing the AIADMK of filing a High Court petition despite previously supporting the Assembly resolution.