BANGLORE(PTI) Bangarappa government and opposition in southern Indian state of Karnataka fell apart on the Cauvery issue as the opposition charged the chief minister with following a dual policy to please the center on the issue and Bangarappa stating that opposition demands for boycott of a Cauvery tribunal at this stage would not serve the interests of the state,

A parallel meeting on the Cauvery issue, convened by opposition leaders decided to move a breach of privilege motion against Bangarappa in the coming state legislature session beginning on July 10 for not honoring unanimous resolutions of the two houses to reject tribunal’s interim order.

Bangarappa, who briefed reporters after an all-party meeting attended only by Janata party and Muslim league, stoutly denied opposition charge that Kamataka had released water to Tamil Nadu.

He however, conceded the opposition demand to release a text of union water resources minister, V C Shukla’s letter suggesting setting up of a joint regulation committee to monitor implementation of the interim order. Bangarappa said Karnataka out rightly rejected Shukla’s suggestion and added that he had urged premier Narasimha Rao, to advise Shukla not to issue statements without verifying facts. Meanwhile the leader of opposition in the state assembly, D B Chandra Gowda Janata Dal, who briefed reporters after opposition party meeting attended by Janata Dal, BJP, left parties and Kannada Chaluvali, said the meeting expressed lack of confidence in Bangarappa’ stability to resolve the tangle to best interest of farmers of Kamataka.

He said meeting had unanimously decided not to attend any meeting to be convened by Bangarappa on Cauvery issue till its demand for boycott of tribunal proceedings was me.

Gowda charged Bangarappa government with belying opposition’s trust which reposed in government, in extending unflinching support to it with a hope that the row would be settled through negotiations. Opposition parties in a letter to Bangarappa, alleged that the center in it  keenness to appease Jayalalitha government in Tamil Nadu had been initiating steps to implement the interim order, whereas the Kamataka government had so far not spelled out its stand.

The Letter also pointed out that though Bangarappa often maintained that he was bound by the decision of state legislatures on the Cauvery issue, water was released to Tamil nadu from the Kabini River.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 10, 1994