Cong flays TN CM on Hogenakkal issue

Bangalore, Apr 1 (UNI) Coming down heavily on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his remarks on the Hogenakkal issue, the Congress in Karnataka today accused him of making 'politics' out of it and urged him to shun issuing any provocative statements which would hit the very basic 'federal structure' of the country.

Addressing newspersons here, KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge charged Mr Karunanidhi of indulging in 'narrow politics' which would hurt the very fundamentals of federal structure.

Stating Karnataka had never denied drinking water, he brought to the notice of Tamil Nadu government of the state giving five tmcft of water from its share of River Krishna for meeting the drinking water needs of Chennai citizens.

''It is a different story that Andhra Pradesh government misused Karnataka's gesture by enlarging the purpose of Telugu-Ganga Project,'' Mr Kharge alleged.

Appealing to Mr Karunanidhi not to make any provocative statement on Hogenakkal issue, Mr Kharge said the Congress in Karnataka will do its best to protect the 'interests of the people of the state.' ''Mr Karunanidhi, being a seasoned politician and one of the biggest political leaders in the country, should not see the Hogenakkal issue narrowly,'' Mr Kharge said.

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