BENGALURU: Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan met Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday, and said that he was willing to work as a bridge between the two states to ensure cordial relationship between them. "I can be the squirrel. I am ready to become a bridge and if you want me to become a slipper that people walk on, I am ready to be that," he said.
Haasan, who is the founder of Makkal Needhi Maim, met the CM for about ten minutes at his home office Krishna, and discussed a few issues with him, including the the Cauvery water dispute. "Both the States should prioritise the concerns of the farmers while holding talks regarding the dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," he said.
On Cauvery Management Board set up by the Supreme Court, Haasan said that he would like it to be expedited. "I am happy that there is a CM who is looking at the problem the same we are," he said. To a question, he said that it was better to settle the Cauvery dispute outside the court by involving all the stake holders. "We should try to settle it between people and court should be the last resort," he said.
Farmers dispute
However, his views on how the dispute between the two States has to be resolved was disputed by a delegation of farmers who paid a courtesy visit to the new CM.K Challamutthu, one of the seven farmers leaders who met HDK under the aegis of Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association Joint Action Committee criticised Haasan's remarks. Criticising the proposal to settle the dispute between people of the States, Challamutthu said that it would only worsen the situation. "Both the States should abide by the Supreme Court directions and ensure that the interests of farmers are served," he said.
Earlier, the CM said that problems faced by the states had to be shared equally to maintain the interests of the farmer. On whether the state was ready for talks with Tamil Nadu, he said that he was willing to talk to Tamil Nadu government, whenever they were ready.Haasan is visiting the state for the second time in the past three weeks. He was also present during the swearing in ceremony of Kumaraswamy held on May 23.
State appoints member for Cauvery Board
Karnataka State government has appointed Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, as member in the Cauvery Management Authority. While Shivashanker, managing director of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited will be appointed member of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, official notification regarding the same is awaited. The board formed by Centre would deal with the issue of water share, mainly between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.