Can't even move a stone: AIADMK's Kovai Sathyan warns Karnataka over Mekedatu

AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan attacked Karnataka leaders over their Mekedatu remarks and warned against any unilateral move. He said the Supreme Court's Cauvery verdict barred progress on the project and accused them of political provocation.Karnataka maintains that the Mekedatu project within its territory will also benefit Tamil Nadu. (File photo)AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan has hit out at Karnataka leaders over their repeated statements on the proposed Mekedatu project, accusing them of provoking people for political gain and warning that any move to proceed with the project would amount to contempt of court.Reacting to remarks by Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and minister Cheluvaraya Swamy, Sathyan said the issue was governed by the Supreme Court’s directions and that Karnataka could not proceed unilaterally with the project.“The repeated remarks on Mekedatu by the Congress leaders, particularly DK Shivakumar and today Mr Cheluvaraya Swamy, are highly condemnable. Instigating people for their political fortunes is not good,” he said.Sathyan said political leaders must abide by the law and claimed that the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Cauvery dispute was clear. “Even if they go ahead with anything on Mekedatu, it amounts to contempt,” he said.Taking a sharp dig at Cheluvarayaswamy, Sathyan said: “I wish Mr Cheluvaraya Swamy to choose which prison he wants to be in, whether he wants to have a merry time in Parappana Agrahara or Tihar, it’s up to him.” He said this was his “last” appeal to Karnataka leaders to stop using the Mekedatu issue for political purposes.“The verdict is in favour of Tamil Nadu and you can’t even move a stone. That is truth,” Sathyan said.He also criticised what he described as “half-baked” statements by leaders who, he alleged, were misleading the public on the issue.“We strongly condemn it and I challenge that he can’t even be able to place one brick for Mekedatu,” he said.Sathyan’s remarks come amid renewed political sparring between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across the Cauvery river. The project has long been opposed by Tamil Nadu, which has raised concerns over its potential impact on the state’s share of Cauvery waters.- EndsPublished By: Nitish SinghPublished On: Aug 27, 2026 05:55 IST