Cauvery case: K'taka MPs highlight 'injustice'

New Delhi, Mar 13: A delegation of MPs, cutting across party lines, from Karnataka today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to highlight the ''innumerable contradictions'' in the the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, inflicting 'grave injustice' on the state.

The delegation, led by former Prime Miniser H D Deve Gowda, which included Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan urged the Prime Minister not to notify the Award till the matter was ''rectified''.

Making a 10-page representation before Dr Singh, the MPs detailed as to how Karnataka had received a raw deal right from the British rule days. ''The H D Griffin Award in 1914 was never allowed to be operational but on the other hand, the 1924 agreement was imposed on the state at the behest of the Privy Council which set aside the Award. Today in free India, Karnataka in the spirit of cooperative federalism and democracy is assuring adoption of a positive approach to resolve the vexed problem through dialogue and negotiations.

''A comprehensive national water policy and formulation of National Water Law that promoted cooperative federalism is the need of the hour to strengthen unity and integrity of the nation,'' the memorandum said.

Briefing newspersons after the meeting, Mr Gowda said the Prime Minister gave a patient hearing and assured the MPs that the demand would be considered on merit. He also assured to consult Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz on the issue.

Former Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar said the demand of Karnataka MPs to discuss the issue in both Houses of Parliament was valid. On reports that the Government had not favoured a debate, Mr Naidu said discussion of a problem in Parliament was a democratic right and the Presiding Officers of Parliament had not precluded a discussion on the issue.

The delegation, comprising of over 30 MPs, included Mr B K Hariprasad, former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, former Lok Sabha Speaker S Mallikarjunanaiah and senior Congress MP R L Jalappa.

UNI

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