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Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy criticized the all-party meeting on the Cauvery water issue, suggesting that it was ineffective and questioning its purpose. He expressed frustration over water being released to Tamil Nadu under the pretence of supporting farmers and mocked the idea of attending the meeting just for the refreshments.
"Water has been diverted to Tamil Nadu from KRS in the name of farmers. An all-party meeting has been called without water. Should I have attended the meeting just to eat the almonds provided? Did you have to go to Shahabbasagiri for leaving the water? If I do Janata Darshan in Mandya, the authorities have ordered me not to participate," Kumaraswamy said, while responding to a media query about the Cauvery all-party meeting. He also highlighted that authorities prevented him from holding meetings with officials in Mandya, questioning the need for such restrictions. "What does he want from us after ordering not to hold a meeting with the authorities? I went to thank the people who voted in Pandavapur. I know which programme to attend on which occasion. Do you need their permission? Why did you meet? What have you decided?" he asked, noting that, despite the meeting, only a small amount of water was agreed to be released. "Everyone is watching how they treat us. If you go to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister will call and ask for cooperation," he said. Kumaraswamy said that if I sign the state schemes, you will try to stop them. Kumaraswamy criticised Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, stating, "Whatever program we do, we do it sincerely. His character did not work illegally. Whoever stood behind him to make him Chief Minister is playing with his life." Reflecting on his own tenure, he said, "I picked up the garbage of the corporation. You are carrying a movie box; in our time, there were no CDs. He did not make a living by looting wherever he saw it. They are looking for records against me by holding a meeting on Sunday as well." (ANI)
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