Congress stands behind Karnataka government on Cauvery issue: Digvijay

Stating that there was not much of an option left after the apex court gave an interim order, Singh said, "Congress party stands solidly behind the decision of the government of Karnataka on the issue of Cauvery water."

Speaking to reporters after holding the first coordination committee meeting of the state Congress, Singh complimented Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for consistently taking the opposition on board regarding the issue.

"We have made our case very clear to the Supreme Court," he said.

Cauvery row has stirred up the state after the Supreme Court on Monday directed to Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 10 days to address the plight of the farmers there.

Siddaramaiah, who was also present, said there was a 'confusion' among people that because of the offer to release 10,000 cusecs made by state's senior counsel F S Nariman during the recent hearing, the Supreme Court directed release of 15,000 cusecs for 10 days. 

Siddaramaiah said during the recent all party meeting, it was decided to allow the legal team to take a decision depending on the developments in the court.

"Nariman has kept two things in mind. The first is to succeed in the main petition which is coming up in the Supreme Court on October 18 where we are challenging the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal.

"Second is when similar situation had arisen in 2012, as a goodwill gesture we had offered release 10,000 cusecs for nine days, which was accepted by the court then," he said.

The Chief Minister said government had already decided to approach the Supreme Court with a modification petition explaining its difficulties in implementing its order and seeking its change and also to move the Cauvery Supervisory Committee.

Pointing out that this is not the first time that the state is complying with such orders of the Supreme Court, he recalled similar action was taken when Deve Gowda, S M Krishna and Jagadish Shettar were chief ministers.

Siddaramaiah said "this time also we had no other option and it was inevitable for us to release water and comply with the order."

Assuring farmer's protection for their standing crops and people of Bengaluru, Mandya and Mysuru on drinking water, Siddaramaiah said "we are already releasing water to crops through canals as per what has been decided in the Irrigation Consultative Committee."

He said BJP and JD(S) were trying to play politics supporting Karnataka state bandh called by pro-Kannada organisations tomorrow.