Cong leader condemns Kumaraswamy's statement

Hubli, Nov 20 (UNI) Terming as ''uncalled for and irresponsible'' Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's offer for talks on the border row with Maharashtra, Leader of the Opposition in the Council H K Patil today asked the State Government to stand by the resolutions adopted by the State Legislature urging the Centre to implement the Mahajan Commission report in toto.

Talking to newspersons here, he condemned Mr Kumaraswamy's statement that he was ready for talks if the Centre provided a platform to settle the issue once for all, when the State's stand on the issue was crystal clear that the Mahajan Commission report was final. Before unanimously resolving that the Centre should implement the Mahajan Commission report during the special session of the Legislature in Belgaum recently, the same resolution had been passed thrice in 1966, 1967 and 1994, he noted.

Mr Patil declined to comment when asked about former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's statement that it was ''impossible for major political parties to fight elections without using black money,'' Asserting that former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would win the Chamundeshwari bypoll hands down, he said Janata Dal (U) candidate Guruswamy's continuation in the fray made the Congress' task much easier.

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