Move SC on Cauvery verdict immediately, JD(U) tells K'taka Govt

Bangalore, Feb 14 (UNI) Claiming that the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in Karnataka had utterly failed to properly address the reverses the State had suffered in the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, Janata Dal (United) today demanded that the Government immediately challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

Speaking to mediapersons here, JD(U) State President B Somasekhar said the State Government should challenge the verdict in the Apex Court forthwith as it was ''unscientific'' and important factors like availability of water, socio-economic and geographic positions of the basin States, mainly Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, had not been taken into consideration by the Tribunal.

''Instead of taking different aspects into consideration, the Tribunal seems to have just worked out some simple arithmetic,'' he said.

Mr Somasekhar alleged that the Kumaraswamy Government had taken suo-motu decisions concerning waiver of farm loans and banning of arrack, without consulting the Opposition. However, in the Cauvery issue, it was saying that it would go by the decision of the all-party meeting. This was nothing but an escapist attitude, he alleged.

''Why didn't the Government pass a resolution in the Assembly opposing the verdict immediately after it was out,'' he asked.

UNI