CH NEWS
BENGALURU
Former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda skipped the all-party meeting on the Cauvery water dispute, citing health reasons, while extending full support to Karnataka’s stand. In a letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, he said he has always backed efforts to protect the state’s interests, farmers’ livelihoods and water rights. Deve Gowda assured support for the government’s legal battle over the dispute. He said Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, along with JD(S) legislators and senior party leaders, would represent the party at the meeting convened to discuss the Cauvery water issue.