Congress Caught in a Cauvery Crossfire: Supports Mekedatu in Karnataka, Protests in Tamil Nadu

A national party should have a common policy on most issues. It cannot afford to have two different positions on contentious matters such as the Mekedatu project and the Cauvery water dispute, particularly when the same party is in power in Karnataka and shares power with the TVK in Tamil Nadu.

Ironically, former AICC General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manickam Tagore has criticised his own party's Chief Minister over the stand taken on the Cauvery water dispute, alleging that it goes against the interests of Tamil Nadu and is "utterly unacceptable."

He was reacting to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the statutory clearances for the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project and withdraw the recommendations of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats.

Addressing Modi, Shivakumar said, "Sir, you just saw the dam on the Cauvery. The Supreme Court has delivered a clear verdict to all of us that Mekedatu has to be built in Karnataka, and no one can stop it. We want you to help us legally."

The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister made these remarks on Friday.

However, his statement did not go down well with the TNCC chief. Tagore took to the social media platform X and accused Shivakumar of making statements that disregarded the Supreme Court's ruling and the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

He did not stop there. Tagore said, "It is deeply condemnable that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mysuru, said, 'No one can stop the construction of a dam at Mekedatu', and that the Central government must give its final approval for it.

"The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister continues to adopt a stubborn stance, blatantly violating the Supreme Court ruling and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award. This statement, which goes against the principle of federalism and seeks to destroy the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu's farmers, is utterly unacceptable," Tagore said.

He further argued that Karnataka, being an upper-riparian state, could not independently take up a project that could affect the water rights of Tamil Nadu, which lies downstream in the Cauvery river basin. He also urged the Centre not to grant any clearance for the proposed dam without obtaining the consent of the lower-riparian state.

"Granting approval for the Mekedatu project without Tamil Nadu's consent is not only illegal but will also severely affect the lives of farmers in the delta districts," he said.

Tagore further said it was the Centre's "responsibility" to "prevent Karnataka from laying even a single brick at Mekedatu." He added, "On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Congress, we will never allow this project; we will go to any lengths to fight to protect our state's rights."

However, the Karnataka Congress and the state government remain firm in their support for the project, maintaining that the Supreme Court's order is in their favour. What is particularly surprising is that leaders of the same party should have two contrasting positions on Mekedatu — supporting the project in Karnataka while opposing it in Tamil Nadu.

The issue does not end there. The Tamil Nadu Congress chief also said he would raise the matter during his visit to Thanjavur on Saturday, reiterating that the state would remain united in its efforts to protect its share of Cauvery water and safeguard farmers' interests.

"I am going to Thanjavur today; I intend to speak in detail about this matter there. Tamil Nadu will always stand united for Cauvery rights. Our voice will continue to ring out loudly to protect Tamil Nadu's interests and our farmers' rights without compromise," Tagore added.

The Karnataka BJP condemned what it described as the Congress's dual stand and said the party needed to make its position clear. Congress must either support the construction of the project or oppose it, the saffron party said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

[email protected]

A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

Read More