Taking strong exceptions to Union ministers playing a partisan role in disputes involving states, Congress’ southern ally DMK has impressed on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to rein in such Cabinet members apart from demanding that Karnataka be forced to implement the Cauvery River Authority’s (CRA) order of releasing 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu and notification of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Order in the gazette.
The Dravidian party has also requested the Prime Minister to consider imposing article 356 in the event of Karnataka failing to comply with the directives of the CRA, which has been endorsed by the Supreme Court.
Senior DMK leader T.R. Baalu who called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh this evening over the Cauvery dispute submitted a memorandum to him detailing the woes of Tamil Nadu farmers and complained about Karnataka’s violation of the CRA’s order.
Pointing to Union Ministers S.M. Krishna, Mallikarjuna Kharge, and K.H. Muniyappa taking sides with their states, the memorandum said that it was not in the best interests of the nation.
It said, “Is it proper for ministers of the Union Government to hold advocate briefs of one particular state and create a hostile environment amongst neighbouring states?”