New Delhi: Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has called for a parliamentary panel to look into the bitter dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery waters.
The Janata Dal (Secular) leader from Karnataka said Monday that a parliamentary team should visit the two states, study the situation on the ground, and submit its report to the House.
Participating in the discussion on “Parliamentary journey of 75 years starting from ‘Samvidhan Sabha’ – achievements, experiences, memories and learnings” in the special session Monday, Gowda appealed to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar to nominate five members for this committee, who were not from either of the states.
“Let them not quarrel unnecessarily… This quarrel will not be solved legally. If at all, our friends from neighbouring states will have to sit together and reach some sort of understanding, otherwise things will continue like this and there will be struggle on both sides,” the former PM said.
Gowda’s comments in Parliament came close on the heels of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement that the state government had filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the directions of the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC).
The CWRC directed Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days starting 13 September. Karnataka has defied the order.
An all-party delegation of MPs from Tamil Nadu have now decided to ask Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to direct the Cauvery Water Management Authority to order the release of 12,500 cusecs to the state.
Flaying Opposition parties of the INDIA bloc, Gowda said, “The problem has been created by the unity of our friends. They have 40 members, we have 28. There is no unity… The people are suffering.” Incidentally, Gowda’s party JD(S) has tied up with the BJP in Karnataka for the 2024 general elections.
The next date of hearing in the Supreme Court on the Cauvery issue is on 21 September.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Cauvery issue: TN MPs’ delegation to call on Union Jal Shakti Minister on Monday