Karnataka   

Disputes with neighbouring States to be resolved

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MAY 28. Within minutes of taking over as the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh declared that his Government would attempt to resolve the disputes involving Karnataka and its neighbours in an amicable manner.

He also said that though his administration would give a thrust to rural development, it would continue the policy of his predecessor, S.M. Krishna, with regard to the development of the information technology and biotechnology sectors.

On the State's disputes with its neighbours, Mr. Dharam Singh said he would not surrender the interests of the State on issues such as sharing of river waters and the State's boundaries.

Asked whether he anticipated any problems in handling issues such as sharing Cauvery waters with Tamil Nadu and Krishna waters with Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister said his Tamil Nadu counterpart, Jayalalithaa, had telephoned and congratulated him on becoming the Chief Minister. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, had been a good friend for a long time, he said.

On the continuing menace of the brigand, Veerappan, he said he would hold talks with his Tamil Nadu and Kerala counterparts and work out a strategy.

On the adoption of a common minimum programme (CMP) by the Congress and the coalition partner, the Janata Dal (S), and representation in the Council of Ministers for the two parties, Mr. Dharam Singh hinted that the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary, Jairam Ramesh, would be involved in drafting the CMP. Senior leaders of the two parties would go into the question of the composition of the Ministry.

Asked about the reservations of the Janata Dal (S) over foreign direct investment, Mr. Dharam Singh said he did not foresee any problems on that count.

Mr. Singh also declared that he would not use force to end the naxalite activities in some of the districts bordering Andhra Pradesh. What was needed was social and economic development of those regions to remove poverty and illiteracy. Being a former Home Minister, he was aware of the naxalite problem. "I was in the communist movement during my youth. I knew great communist leaders such as P. Sundarayya with whom I had discussions on the reasons for the naxalite problems in Andhra Pradesh," he said. He was of the firm opinion that such socio-economic problems could not be solved by the use of force.

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