Cauvery award reference: Oppn has govt on mat

Strongly pushes for deletion of its reference in the Governor's address

Opposition in Karnataka today slammed the Congress government for its position on the Cauvery tribunal award and strongly pushed for deletion of its reference in the Governor's address.

In his address to the joint session of the state legislature yesterday, Governor H R Bhardwaj had said, "The long-pending extension, renovation and modernisation projects of the Cauvery basin will be taken up for approval of the Centre, in conformity with the Cauvery award."

Opposition parties JD-S, BJP and KJP took umbrage at the government's stand. They asked the government if it amounted to acceptance of the Cauvery award which was challenged and is pending before the Supreme Court.

Leader of the Opposition H D Kumaraswamy (JD-S), who had given a notice to Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, suggested an amendment to the address, deleting the sentence before moving motion of thanks to the Governor.

For his address. Kumaraswamy pointed out that modernisation works had already been taken up and asked as to what was the necessity for the state government to seek the Centre's approval.

"Whom you are going to please? Do you want to please UPA- III by stating about implementation of modernisation projects in conformity with the Cauvery Award ?" he asked sarcastically. BJP floor leader and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and former Water Resources Minister Basavaraja Bommai (BJP) also slammed the government, saying the Governor's address clearly indicated acceptance of the award by the Government.

They demanded immediate deletion of the sentence from the speech to protect the interest of the state. "The Governor's speech is a very serious document in the Supreme Court. Don't make it a prestige issue to delete the sentence from the speech," Bommai said.

Yeddyurappa alleged that the state has "surrendered" to Tamil Nadu and urged the government to correct mistakes in the speech copy approved by the Karnataka Cabinet. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he would give "satisfactory" answer while replying to the debate on motion of thanks to the Governor for his address.

Law and Parliamentary Minister T B Jayachandra requested members to raise the issue while participating in this debate.