Deve Gowda's plea to Centre on Cauvery

Bangalore, Feb 11: Janata Dal (S) President and Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today urged the Centre to initiate immediate action to resolve the Cauvery dispute as the states concerned were unsatisfied with the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

Mr Gowda told reporters here the need of the hour was the Centre should play just and fair role without concern for any exigencies or compulsions of the present political scenario.

Leaders, both at the Centre and all affected states, should view the situation on a wider canvas, he said adding this was both a litmus test and golden opportunity for the UPA Government at the Centre.

''As a former Prime Minister, I am deeply disturbed over the possible repercussions of the final award announced recently.

''A wrong and distorted picture is sought to be painted as if it is a war between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,'' he said.

''The leaders of different states are within their rights to demand that their people do not suffer.

''When it comes to the suffering of the toiling farmers anywhere, no politics can and should come in between.

''As for the future, I can only hope and call upon the Centre to play a mature and fair role in helping to resolve this dispute as a catalyst and have dialogue initiated between the parties and to act in manner so as to be fair to all units of the federal India,'' he said.

UNI