Political parties, cutting across party lines condemned the Supreme Court order on Cauvery that reduced the quantum of water to Tamil Nadu while disappointed farmers slowly came to terms with the ground reality and began to reconcile to the fact.

But the farmers now hope that Karnataka is held to the judgment and is forced to accept and implement it rather than flout like it did all the previous SC orders on Cauvery waters. The judgment came as a shock to the government, political parties and the farmers bodies that were hopeful of at least status quo, but the SC upheld the claims of Karnataka and gave it additional 14.75 tmcft of water.

While this decision was hailed with muted celebrations in Karnataka, the political parties here condemned it and the opposition party sought the resignation of the government for its failure to represent the case properly and convince the court, something that the lawyers of the Karnataka did admirably.

DMK working president MK Stalin said EPS government failed abjectly in protecting the interests of the Tamil Nadu and its farming community. Stalin said the government had failed to retain even what water Kaliagnar Karunanidhi had managed to secure for the state. The EPS government has forfeited the rights of the state on Cauvery waters.

Senior DMK leader Duraimurugan sought the resignation of the government over the apex court decision that was shocking and unjust and unfair to Tamil Nadu.

Though this is the general sentiment that TN was cheated out of its rightful share in a judgment that many described as tilted in favour of Karnataka due to elections being held there, there is a section of the farmers that is agreeable to settle and pin the Karnataka down to this order of the Surpeme Court and that it be forced to implement this in toto.

Kamal Haasan too came out strongly against the order but urged negotiations and talks to settle the issue. It is shocking that water for Tamil Nadu was reduced and said it was setback to Tamil Nadu.

“I am shocked at the reduction of quantum of water to Tamil Nadu,” Kamal Haasan said.

But overall there is disappointment and frustration among the farmers in Tamil Nadu.

The order is a setback to Tamil Nadu, said AIDAMK leader and SC lawyer A Navaneetha Krishnan adding that the TN government may take appropriate action.

C Nallaswamy, Secretary, Federation of Tamil Nadu Agriculturalists Association said that the judgment was against natural justice and also took the government to task for failing to present the case properly in the court.

BR Pandian farmers leader said at least TN will lose one lakh acres of paddy fields due to this reduced water supply.

However, there is a section of the farmers who welcomed the judgment.

Said P Ayyakannu, state vice-president of Bharathiya Kisan Sangam, “We welcome the judgment as it is for the first time that the Supreme Court has declared that river water is for all and is not the sole right of Karnataka.

So far, there have been no reports of any protests or violence from any part of Tami Nadu.