Bengaluru, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday hit back at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay over his criticism of the killing of three suspected poachers in Chamarajanagar district, asserting that states should not interfere in each other’s internal administration and law-and-order matters.
Shivakumar said Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had their own challenges and that each government should focus on addressing issues within its jurisdiction.
“This is a federal structure. No state should interfere with the internal matters of another state. I have never interfered in the affairs of Tamil Nadu, and I don’t want to comment on their administration,” Shivakumar said.
He also took a swipe at Tamil Nadu political leaders, saying they should exercise restraint while commenting on Karnataka’s law-and-order situation.
“Panneerselvam or anyone else should have basic common sense. I cannot involve myself in Tamil Nadu’s law-and-order problems. They should also know that every state has its own problems,” he said.
Shivakumar asserted that the Karnataka government was capable of protecting the state’s interests and would discharge its responsibilities.
“We know how to protect our state. Let them do their job and we will do our job. They should not interfere in administration and law-and-order matters,” he said.
The remarks came amid a growing controversy over the August 15 deaths of three Tamil men — Anthony Samy, John Rose Peter and Kumar — in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district. Tamil Nadu leaders have demanded an independent probe into the incident, while Karnataka authorities have maintained that forest personnel opened fire in self-defence during an anti-poaching operation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had condemned the killings and described the Karnataka government’s explanation as unacceptable, calling for a probe into the incident.
The controversy has also triggered demands for a CBI investigation from political leaders in Tamil Nadu. Shivakumar has rejected such calls, while the Karnataka government has announced a magisterial inquiry into the deaths.
The developments have added a fresh inter-state political dimension to the incident, with both sides maintaining differing positions on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
FOLLOW NOW
