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Congress and BJP leaders indulge in blame game at all-party meeting

Last Updated 01 October 2016, 19:57 IST

The Congress and the BJP, on Saturday indulged in blame game on the role of the state’s legal team and the Centre on the Cauvery issue, at an all-party meeting called by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Sources in the government said BJP leader Jagadish Shettar took exception to senior counsel Fali Nariman’s decision not to argue the state’s case in the Supreme Court on Friday. The BJP leader also criticised Nariman for submitting a letter he had written to the chief minister on the issue.

“How can an advocate disclose communication he had with the chief minister, to the court? Nariman has let down the government,” the BJP leader stated. He sought to know why the government did not make an alternative arrangement despite Nariman announcing in advance that he cannot argue the case in the court. BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said that the legal team had failed completely and suggested that the government change it at the earliest.

“Karnataka can never expect justice from the two-judge bench. Though the BJP has been demanding that the case be shifted to another bench, the government did not take any measure in this regard,” he charged.

Advocate Mohan V Katarki, a member of the legal team, tried to defend Nariman. Katarki said Nariman had obtained the chief minister’s permission to disclose the letter he had written on the issue of releasing water, to the court.

Congress MPs, including K H Muniyappa, S P Mudduhanume Gowda, R Dhruvanarayana and Prakash Hukkeri objected to the BJP leaders picking holes in the matter and blaming the government. They tried to turn the tables on the BJP leaders, by seeking to know why Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi readily accepted a suggestion by the SC on the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge said the Centre had shied away from intervening in the issue. The BJP leaders from Karnataka, especially the Union ministers, should bring pressure on the Centre, he added.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said the party has suggested to the government not to release water. The government should stick to the resolution passed in the legislature recently, to utilise the available water only for drinking purpose. The BJP will also oppose the CMB and the party will prevail upon the Centre not to establish it in a hurry, he said.

JD(S) leader Y S V Datta said the state should not release water and face the consequences of contempt of court.  “Let there be contempt. Let them (court) dismiss the government. Let them send us to jail. Our party is ready to face any consequence. The JD(S) will stand by the government,” he added.

The JD(S) has suggested that 225 MLAs, 75 MLCs and 28 MPs of the state should submit an affidavit to the Supreme Court, that they are all responsible for the decision not to release water.

Tit for tat

Nariman placing letter to Siddaramaiah before court, not arguing case irks BJP.
Why Attorney General accepted SC suggestion on
Cauvery Board, Cong wants to know.

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(Published 01 October 2016, 19:57 IST)

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