Karnataka - Hassan   

`Aiyar should apologise for his statement'

Staff Correspondent

Prime Minister asked to reign in Minister from making remarks

HASSAN: Taking exception to the statements of the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Panchayat Raj, Mani Shankar Aiyar, over the Cauvery water dispute during his recent visit to the State, the former Rajya Sabha member H.K. Javare Gowda said here that Mr. Aiyar's statement may make an impact on the impending judgement of the Cauvery tribunal.

Mr. Javare Gowda, who was a member of the Water Consultative Committee, recalled that Mr. Aiyar said on Sunday that Karnataka has "cheated" Tamil Nadu in sharing Cauvery waters, in the presence of the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, H.C. Mahadevappa. The statement might influence the tribunal, which is to deliver the final verdict, he said.

`Considered view'

Since Mr. Aiyar's visit to the State was an official one, his statement cannot be read in isolation and it will be construed as the "considered view" of the Union Government, he said. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, should clarify that the statement made by Mr. Aiyar is his personal opinion and it cannot be read as the view of the Union Government, he added.

He demanded that leaders barring party affiliations condemn the statement and MPs from the State raise the issue in Parliament. Mr. Aiyar has to apologise to the people of the State for having made a "biased statement," he said.

Mr. Javare Gowda parried a question as to why Mr. Mahadevappa maintained silence when Mr. Aiyar made the statement and why the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has not reacted to the statement.

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