BANGALORE: Leaders of several political parties in Karnataka including the SJP leader H.D. Deve Gowda Wednesday questioned the impartiality of the President. R. Venkataraman on the Cauvery imbroglio.
The Presidents attitude raises suspicions about his impartiality” Deve Gowda said at a seminar organized by the Kannada Chaluvali Samiti here to debate on the topic Cauvery what next” The leader of the opposition in the state assembly D.B. Chandre gowda and three others in a press statement have also attacked the Presidents recent remarks where he spoke of the chaos that could result if states questioned the decisions of tribunals and course. It is astonishing that the President should have entered into this highly sensitive and explosive matter of Cauvery dispute especially in view of the fact that he comes from Tamil Nadu the beneficiary of the “tribunals interim order” the statement said The cosignatories were the former Congress MP H.N Nanjegowda Kannada Chaluvali leader and MLA Vatal Nagaraj Byregowda the SJPMLA and noted advocate Channa basappa.
Deve Gowda said “The President is not the President of Tamil Nadu alone he is the President of all the states.” The SIP leader called for a debate on the role of the President and the judiciary in the Cauvery issue. Earlier in his address he pointed to the fact that the President was a Tamilians and the lawyers of the center in the Cauvery issue were also Tamilians.
“I am not questioning their intentions but questions arise” Deve Gowda said.
He cautioned the people of Kamataka not to settle the issue through violence. He said effigies of the Tamil Nadu chief minister should not be burnt. Deve Gowda quoted the Interstate Rive water Disputes Act and repeated his stand that a tribunal cannot give: an interim order and the Supreme: Court and any other court does not have jurisdiction over a river waters dispute.
He said the President must understand how the proceedings of the: tribunal and the decision of the Supreme Court have taken place.
There is no use blaming weak Positions when the President feels only Kamataka has to follow orders not Tamil Nadu” he said. He however criticized Bangarappas handling of the Canvery issue.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 24, 1992
