Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday the state was ready to hold talks with Tamil Nadu to resolve the Cauvery issue, claiming that his counterpart M Karunanidhi was in favour of a dialogue.
Kumaraswamy said he spoke to Karunanidhi over the phone on Monday to extend Ugadi greetings and referred to the latter's readiness to hold talks to sort out the issue in the wake of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal's verdict.
"I referred to his (Karunanidhi's) statements on holding a dialogue. I discussed the issue of having such talks in eight or ten days," Kumaraswamy told reporters. "Karunanidhi responded positively."
Kumaraswamy said before holding any such meeting, he would have to consult senior political leaders and legal and irrigation experts of the state - "We will take a final decision after consultations on whether the meeting should be at the individual level (between the two chief ministers) or whether we should take a delegation."
Responding to a query, he however made it clear that the state's 'legal battle' against the tribunal's award would also continue simultaneously even if the talks materialised.
He said if all the riparian states -- Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala -- were willing for talks, the state was also ready and would 'go ahead' with the dialogue.
Kumaraswamy also appealed to AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa to join hands in any efforts to find an amicable solution.
"Nothing should be done that will give room for whipping up the passions of the people," he said. "As neighbouring states, we should live in a spirit of brotherhood."
