Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has requested his Tamil Nadu counterpart, C. Joseph Vijay, to postpone his proposed visit to Bengaluru amid escalating tensions over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and widespread protests across Karnataka. The request comes as the state witnesses growing public anger following directives to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
According to reports, Vijay was scheduled to visit Bengaluru on August 3 for discussions on the Cauvery issue. However, Shivakumar said the current atmosphere was not conducive for such a meeting and urged him to defer the visit until the situation stabilises.
The development comes as Karnataka prepares to hold an all-party meeting to formulate its response to the ongoing water-sharing dispute. The state has maintained that it will take any decision on releasing water only after consultations with legal experts and political leaders, while also challenging the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's directive through legal channels.
Protests have intensified in several parts of Karnataka, with farmer groups and pro-Kannada organisations opposing the release of water to Tamil Nadu. The state government has appealed for calm, stressing that any decision on the contentious issue will be taken in accordance with legal and constitutional provisions.
