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Karnataka, Tamil Nadu indulge in slanging match

A day after Karnataka refused to release Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu, the dispute took a turn for the worse on Sunday with both states indulging in a slanging match.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said in Chennai that Karnataka's latest stand amounted to "roguish conduct".

Karnataka Irrigation Minister H K Patil retaliated by saying that it was unbecoming of a chief minister to use such language.

In a statement issued in Bangalore, Patil said the words "roguish conduct" were provocative.

"I clarify and reiterate that the Karnataka government is discharging its duty in protecting the interests of its farmers, and has hence not committed any offence or misconduct," he said.

On Saturday, Jayalalithaa had accused Karnataka of violating the Supreme Court's order to release 9,000 cusecs of water daily in accordance with the directive of the Cauvery River Authority.

She also threatened to file another contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for defying the apex court's latest directive.

The Supreme Court, while directing Karnataka to release water, had said that the CRA could modify its decision, Patil said.

Accordingly, the Karnataka government had petitioned Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to convene a meeting of the CRA, he added.

Meanwhile, opposition parties in Karnataka termed as a gimmick Chief Minister S M Krishna's decision to undertake a padayatra from Bangalore to Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir near Mysore.

"It is not a yatra, but a Congress patra to cover up the state government's failure to resolve the inter-state water dispute and safeguard the farmers' interests," Janata Dal (United) state unit president Byre Gowda said.

The BJP said the chief minister was trying to revive the sagging image of the Congress by going on a padayatra.

"The Congress is taking the state opposition parties for granted, as there was no mention about the street march at the all-party meeting that was held on Saturday evening," Janata Dal leader P G Sindhia stated.

Pro-Kannada organisations also accused Krishna of politicising the issue.

Krishna, however, defended his decision, saying his only concern was that peace should prevail.

"Since I hail from the region [Mandya] which is most affected by the drought, I am only trying to pay back my debt to the people and farmers who stood by me during the four decades of my political life.

"I also intend to undergo prayaschith [atonement] by embarking on such a padayatra," he said.

The chief minister said he had written to all the opposition leaders, eminent people, writers, artistes, and several Kannada organisations to join him.

Cauvery Water Dispute: The Complete Coverage

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