DK Shivakumar Says Centre to Convene Krishna Water Talks; Slams BJP Over Price Rise

By A Staff Reporter

Bengaluru, April 5 — Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said that the Centre has agreed to call a meeting involving Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka to address the long-standing Krishna river water sharing dispute.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru after returning from Delhi, Shivakumar said, “We met the Union Ministers for Irrigation and Civil Aviation. They have agreed to hold a meeting of the concerned states over the Krishna river water issue.” The announcement comes amid mounting pressure from Karnataka’s farming community and growing inter-state tensions over water allocations.

On the ongoing Kaveri water dispute, Shivakumar expressed pessimism about reaching a consensus with Tamil Nadu, stating, “We know that Tamil Nadu will not cooperate regarding the Kaveri water issue. Only the Court is a way now.”

Responding to criticism over inflation and recent price hikes, particularly the increase in milk prices, Shivakumar took aim at the BJP. “They are the ‘pitamah’ (grandfather) of price rise,” he said. “Yes, we hiked the price of milk, but it will benefit farmers directly.”