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Prevail upon Krishna: Thirunavukkarasar tells Cong. president

By Our Special Correspondent

Coimbatore Oct. 22. The Minister of State for Shipping and Ports, S.Thirunavukkarasar, today appealed to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, to advise the Karnataka Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, to comply with the Supreme Court directive on the Cauvery issue.

Talking to presspersons here, the Minister described Karnataka's refusal to release water for delta irrigation, ignoring the directives of the court and the Cauvery River Authority, as "illegal and unconstitutional''.

"What would happen to the unity and integrity of the country if every Chief Minister disobeyed the apex court and cited the public opposition as a reason. How can the Constitution function in such a scenario."

He urged the Congress chief to make the Karnataka Government "see reason and implement the court order. Otherwise, it will mean she also does not bother about the Constitution''.

On the allegation that the Centre failed to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Thirunavukkarasar said the Prime Minister, who headed the CRA, instructed Karnataka to release 0.8 tmcft a day. This led to "some political parties asking what is wrong in dismissing the Karnataka Government''.

Any other Government would have taken the extreme step. But as the NDA Government was "balanced and sober'' it did not take the step. "But this should not be taken advantage of by Karnataka.''

When it was pointed out that the Centre did not take such a step because of its poor strength in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Thirunavukkarasar said, "The passing of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance and the election of Bairon Singh Shekhawat as Vice- President showed that the Government could muster the required strength in the Rajya Sabha too''.

Mr.Thirunavukkarasar was confident that the court would give a "definitive directive" to Karnataka when the contempt petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Government came up for hearing.

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