Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Sep 6: Former union minister B Janardhana Poojary slammed chief minister Siddaramaiah and minister for water resources, Dr M B Patil on the wake of verdict by Supreme Court on Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu.

Addressing a press meet here on September 6, Poojary said, "The state government has failed to tackle the Cauvery dispute which has led to this verdict. The chief minister had stated that not a single drop of water will be given to Tamil Nadu. But in the affidavit filed at the Supreme Court a clause was mentioned that not less than 10,000 cusec water would be given. Hence the Supreme Court has given an order to release 15,000 cusec of water to Tamil Nadu. Had the chief minister not checked who added this clause in the affidavit before submitting it to the Supreme Court?"

"Does it take 2 days for the chief minister to submit a review petition in the Supreme Court? What was the need to hold a meeting with experts and all the parties before filing the review petition? The affidavit should have been filed immediately," he added.

Coming down heavily on Dr M B Patil for the usage of foul language on a reporter who questioned him, Poojary said, "Using such foul language is condemnable. M B Patil should resign immediately. If he does not resign, then the chief minister should ask for his resignation. Such a person should be sacked in the interest of the people of the state as well as the party. If his resignation is not asked for, then the chief minister will have to lose his position in the coming days. M B Patil has given contracts to contractors from other states in his department. Are there not any contractors here in our state?"

When asked a question by a reporter on the chief minister's media advisor, Dinesh Amin Mattu's statement against Poojary, that led to a heated argument between the reporter and Poojary.