Makkal Needhi Maiam founder and actor Kamal Haasan met Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy earlier on Monday to discuss the Cauvery water dispute.
Makkal Needhi Maiam President @ikamalhaasan meets Hon’ble Karnataka CM @hd_kumaraswamy to start a dialogue to ensure and expedite water sharing between the two states. pic.twitter.com/SMpD8xy0bs
— Makkal Needhi Maiam | மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம் (@maiamofficial) June 4, 2018
The water sharing agreement between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has long been a contentious issue. Successive governments have failed to put an end to it.
Your warm hospitality and openness in discussing the Cauvery issue & various other issues concerning our two states is fully reciprocated sir. I assure you I will do my best in being a trustworthy bridge between Karnataka & Tamilnadu. Thank you for a heartwarming meeting. https://t.co/0CEH6C0lZ0
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 4, 2018
According to a report in NDTV, Kamal told reporters, “There should be no politics over the Cauvery verdict. My meeting is towards that. There should be no trace of violence in protests, but shouldn’t stop protests.”
He felt hopeful after his conversation with the Chief Minister, and that the response he received was heartening. “We are sharing water. There is no two ways about it… I am happy that the CM is also looking at it in the same manner.”
Kumaraswamy said that the two states must maintain their cordial relationship while figuring out a way to work together to avoid future conflict.
Kamal Haasan’s contemporary – Rajinikanth, however, received a less than enthusiastic response for his comments regarding the Cauvery issue.
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Rajinikanth had requested Kumaraswamy to do right by Tamil Nadu. He had also demanded the formation of the Cauvery Water Management Board. In response, the actor’s latest film Kaala was banned in Karnataka after protests by pro-Kannada organisations.
On the film’s release, Kumaraswamy had said that though no political party has formally called for a ban, the film chamber and the people of Karnataka do not want the film to release in the state.
Haasan avoided a similar fate by asking for an out-of-court settlement of the issue.
“Cauvery was there before us. It should and will be there after us. We have to make sure of it,” Haasan said.
When asked if he spoke to the CM about the ban on Kaala, Kamal said that it was “unnecessary”.