From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sept 19: By making repeated mistakes with regard to the Cauvery water sharing, the State Government was putting the people in quandary and what’s there to argue when in the Supreme Court as the government has already honoured the directions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority to release water to Tamil Nadu, asked former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru on Tuesday, he said Karnataka has filed an affidavit before the apex court that it cannot release water after September 12 for which the government must stick to that stand.

The affidavit of the government was of great importance and releasing water now means telling lies before the Supreme Court.

"Water Resources and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has said that I have put him in a spot. I am not going to be benefited by putting him in quandary and I don't require it. However, the stand of the government has put the farmers and the children of Cauvery in a fix. My suggestions are in the interest of the State but the government is not ready to take our suggestions,’’ he said.

The BJP leader said the advocates will always give suggestions to release water and we had changed it. Our government never released water stealthy. When you have followed the CWMA orders what's there to tell before the apex court, he asked.

Misleading Action

The former chief minister said there was no meaning in going to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi now since this issue had been discussed prior to 1990. Now it was irrelevant to discuss about it. Taking an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister was nothing but misleading the people, he said.

The solution to the present problem was difficult unless the state legal team explain to the apex court the water storage situation in the Tamil Nadu dams and the quantum of the usage
of water by them in the Supreme Court.

The state legal team had been there since the previous BJP regime. Nothing can be done if the state government was not ready to take their suggestions seriously, Bommai said.

Non-cooperation by TN

Asked about the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's suggestions for the out of court settlement of the water row, the BJP leader said the Tamil Nadu government had been non-cooperative from the beginning and showing non-cooperation.

On Tamil Nadu MPs meeting Union Jal Shakti Minister, Bommai said the BJP MPs from Karnataka have been asked to meet the union minister concerned and submit a memorandum.

Revolutionary step

Terming the assent to the Women's Reservation Bill by the Government of India as revolutionary, the former Chief Minister said though the bill was passed during the Congress-led UPA government in 2009 in Rajya Sabha, it was not passed in Lok Sabha following strong opposition by the UPA partners.

Giving 50 per cent reservation to women was a step towards the good representation for them. It was unfortunate that the Congress Party had taken the credit for the same.

"Mere preparation of the bill is not important but getting it passed by taking all the parties into confidence is very important. We are confident that the union government will take all into confidence and implement it as legislation,’’ he added.

Jayachandra convenes meeting in Delhi

Meanwhile, Karnataka’s Delhi Representative T B Jayachandra has convened a meeting of State MPs and Union Ministers on the Cauvery issue in Delhi on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also heading the Water Resources Department, are participating in the meeting

MB Patil asks BJP leaders to intervene

Karnataka’s Industries Minister M B Patil has urged BJP leaders from the State to exert pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find a solution to the Cauvery issue by reaching an amicable settlement between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

There must be a distress sharing formula to protect the interests of Karnataka as the State has to look after the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru and other places besides industrial use and farmers, he said.

The minister said Karnataka is making all efforts to present the situation in the State to the Supreme Court on the ground realities by collecting information.