Cauvery row: Will return every penny Karnataka has paid me, Nariman told minister

Bengaluru, Oct 6: Karnataka had plenty to cheer about after the Supreme Court set a lower quantum of Cauvery water to be released to Tamil Nadu. The team led by senior counsel Fali S Nariman had sucessfully managed to convince the Supreme Court that releasing more water was not possible.

Those who have watched Nariman argue for long say that they had never seen him so agitated as he was in the court on the last date of hearing. He told the court that mathematics alone was not sufficient to fix the quantum of water to be released.

Go by the ground realities, an agitated Nariman had told the court.

However, prior to the arguments in the Supreme Court, Karnataka had a tough job convincing Nariman to even argue for the case. He was extremely upset about being blamed by several Karnataka politicians for the orders passed by the Supreme Court.

The state of Karnataka had even approached another senior advocate in case Nariman refused to argue the case. Last week, when members of Karnataka's legal team met Nariman, he said, "I am very hurt and I decline to appear for the state of Karnataka. I am upset with the critical statements made on the floor of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Tell them not to enter my gate," Nariman told the members of the legal team.

The task to convince Nariman then fell upon the Water Resources Minister of Karnataka, MB Patil. He rushed to Delhi and met a very agitated Nariman.

Patil was told, "My doors are shut for you. You can come over for a cup of tea, but you cannot ask me to continue. Find a better lawyer, Nariman also said.

"I charge you one third of the fees that I usually charge. I will pay back all that you have paid in the past 32 years. My dignity is far more important," Nariman also told the minister. Patil immediately apologised and said that we will remove any lawyer but not Nariman.

We cannot do without you, Patil said following which Nariman relented.

OneIndia News