BJP trying to create instability in state government: Govt chief whip

Chief Whip of the government in Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza accused the BJP of trying to create instability in the state government by not doing anything to draw the attention of prime minister to the Cauvery issue.

Ivan D’Souza said that the Central government is not keen on solving the water dispute. “In a federal system, the prime minister has to take the initiative in such matters. The BJP leaders, however, have been saying that the prime minister will not intervene in the matter. The BJP has exhibited an unhealthy gesture by boycotting the all-party meeting,” the legislator said, calling all of these efforts by the party to destabilise the state government.

Defending the move of the state government to discontinue releasing water to Tamil Nadu, D’Souza said that Karnataka is not in a position to follow the interim order of the Supreme Court and, hence, the resolution has been passed by the government in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

“Tamil Nadu has been demanding water for agriculture while there is insufficient in Karnataka for drinking. There has been less than average rainfall in Karnataka. The state has released water as much as it could, but it cannot do so any further as farmers in Karnataka are in deep crisis,” insisted the MLC.

D’Souza pointed out that this is not the first time that any chief minister of Karnataka has convened a special session to pass resolution on River Cauvery issue. In earlier cases, however, it was related to the orders of the Tribunals while this time, the resolution had to do with an order of the Supreme Court, he added.

When the chief minister and the council of ministers met the Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Vala, to obtain his permission for chairing the special session, the Governor had agreed to the move of the state government and had said that, if at all the farmers of Tamil Nadu are to incur crop loss due to non-availability of water, it could be compensated through crop insurance. But, the scarcity of drinking water could not be compensated, said D’Souza.