India, Aug. 2 -- Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday appealed to organisations opposing the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu to withdraw their proposed agitation, saying water cannot be retained once the Kabini reservoir reaches full capacity and warned protesters not to endanger their lives.

The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters at Mysuru airport amid protests over the Cauvery Water Management Authority's direction to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, also accused the BJP of "politicising" the issue. He asserted that Karnataka would protect farmers' interests while abiding by court orders, and said the state had secured a "major victory" in the Supreme Court on the Mekedatu project...