JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda expresses displeasure over Karnataka govt's handling of Cauvery issue
New Delhi (PTI): Amid protests in Karnataka against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda on Friday expressed displeasure over the Congress government's handling of the inter-state water dispute.
The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with the order of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directing the Karnataka government to release 5,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
Karnataka has been maintaining that it is not in a position to release water, taking into account its own need for drinking water and irrigation in the Cauvery basin areas, as there has been water scarcity due to deficit monsoon rains.
"The state officials are not attending CWMA meetings physically. They are participating in it virtually... Will things work if you attend virtual meetings?" Gowda, a former prime minister, told reporters expressing dissatisfaction over the way the issue was being handled.
He said that since the Supreme Court has already pronounced its decision on the Cauvery water issue, he does not want to comment on it as a former prime minister.
Gowda, however, said that he had raised the Cauvery issue in the Rajya Sabha during the just concluded session of Parliament. But none of the MPs from the state, including Leader of Opposition Mallikarnju Kharge, spoke about it.
Farmers' bodies and members of various organisations in Karnataka, especially in the Cauvery heartland of Mandya and Mysuru, have been holding protests for the last few days against the release of the river water to Tamil Nadu. Farmers body Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti has also called a bandh in Mandya on Saturday.
The Tamil Nadu government had approached the apex court seeking an increase in the share of water to 7,200 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs per day. However, the court refused to interfere in the CWMA orders.
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What is Iran’s 10-point plan? Key demands ahead of US talks in Islamabad
Tehran/Islamabad: Iran has outlined a 10-point plan as the basis for upcoming talks with the United States, expected to begin in Islamabad on April 11, according to a statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.
The plan lays out Tehran’s key political, military and economic demands, and is being seen as a framework for negotiations following the recent escalation in the region.
Strait of Hormuz at the centre
A major focus of the plan is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran has proposed “controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces,” which it says would give the country a unique economic and geopolitical position.
The plan also calls for the “establishment of a safe transit protocol” in the Strait that would guarantee Iran’s dominance under an agreed mechanism.
Call to end conflict
Iran has demanded “the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the axis of resistance,” signalling its expectation that hostilities should stop not only in Iran but also involving allied groups in the region.
US troop withdrawal
Another key demand is the “withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region,” indicating Tehran’s long-standing position against American military presence in West Asia.
Sanctions relief and compensation
The plan places strong emphasis on economic measures. It calls for “full payment of Iran’s damages according to estimates,” along with “the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council.”
It also seeks “the release of all Iranian assets and properties frozen abroad,” which have been a major point of contention for years.
Binding global guarantee
Finally, Iran has demanded that all these terms be formally recognised through “a binding Security Council resolution,” suggesting it wants international legal backing to ensure enforcement.
What this means
The 10-point plan reflects Iran’s broader push for security guarantees, economic relief and regional influence. The upcoming talks in Islamabad are expected to test how far both sides are willing to negotiate on these demands.
