Decision To Defer Cauvery Water Not Contempt Of Court, Says Siddaramaiah

New Delhi: The deferring of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu despite the order of the Supreme Court does not amount to contempt of court, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told NDTV today.

The order, he said, was "uncalled for". "The court was told ground reality, but despite that, this type of order passed... We are not willfully disobeying the orders of the Supreme Court. We respect the Supreme Court, but have to give water to humans," he added.

The Chief Minister -- who had met former Chief Minister SM Krishna before coming to Delhi to meet water minister Uma Bharti -- said. "SM Krishna told me we have to reserve water for the state. Giving water to humans is the first priority."

Facing a similar situation in 2002, Mr Krishna had defied the court and held a padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru. The former Chief Minister, who later apologised to the court, today commended Mr Siddaramaiah's decision as "a bold step, a bold decision".

"Mahatma Gandhi once said if the law itself is against human nature, then to defy that law is the only recourse," he added.

Karnataka had decided to defer the release of 6,000 cusecs of water a day since yesterday, as ordered by the top court, following an all-party and a cabinet meeting.

With BJP skipping the all-party meet, the state's formal response to the court order will be decided after a special session of the legislative assembly on Friday. The BJP will be attending the session.

This morning, Mr Siddaramaiah, briefed Governor Vajubhai Vala on recent events and asked him to convene a special session.

Karnataka says it does not have enough water to drink and can't spare any yet for Tamil Nadu's crops.