CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday said there could not be any more talks with Karnataka on the Cauvery water dispute.

Asked about Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's statement that the two had decided to hold talks on the Cauvery issue, he said that there was no point in discussing the issue.

The Karnataka Chief Minister had called him up to wish him on the occasion of Ugadi "perhaps because I restored the holiday for Ugadi," Mr. Karunanidhi said, adding that both Mr. Kumaraswamy and his father Deve Gowda (the former Prime Minister) had wished him on that day.

"Deve Gowda has been my friend for long," he told presspersons here. Mr. Karunanidhi read out the messages that he received from Mr. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Deve Gowda and also his replies to them. Neither in the letter nor in the phone conversation was the Cauvery issue discussed. "I told him that I knew that he visits Thanjavur and other places. He said that he would come here in about 10 days," he said.

Asked if he was prepared to discuss the Cauvery issue, Mr. Karunanidhi said the circumstances did not permit such a dialogue.

On the charge that the DMK pressed for gazetting of the interim award soon after it was pronounced in 1991 but had not done so in the case of the interim award, Mr. Karunanidhi said the interim award was in favour of Tamil Nadu. Hence, the party pressed for a gazette notification. The State required a few clarifications on the final award because it felt that there were some adverse points. This was a reason for not seeking the notification immediately.

On Professor M.S. Swaminathan's suggestion for the creation of special agricultural zones, he said it was a good idea. The first step would be the interlinking of rivers because many States and regions were water deficient.

On the acquisition of land for special economic zones, Tamil Nadu would follow the path shown by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in the setting up of SEZs, he said.

Karnataka's stand

Bangalore Special Correspondent reports:

Mr. Kumaraswamy told the Karnataka Assembly that there was no change in the State's decision to file a review petition before the Cauvery tribunal. The attempt to hold bilateral discussions was only another effort at finding a solution. On his conversation with Mr. Karunanidhi, he said he had greeted him on the occasion of Ugadi. "We did speak on certain things. Should I hear anything from Tamil Nadu, I will first hold a meeting with all political leaders... "

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail