Maha will rethink releasing water to Karnataka: Minister

Nagpur: Amid the simmering border row, Maharashtra excise minister Shambhuraj Desai has warned that the state will have to rethink about releasing water to Karnataka if its chief minister Basavaraj Bommai did not stop making “irresponsible and disrespectful remarks against the Marathi-speaking people and Maharashtra”.
Addressing media persons outside the assembly on Wednesday, Desai said there are more ways to reply to the Karnataka CM’s diatribe. “This would ultimately cause a lot of suffering to the people of Karnataka,” he said.
Desai and Chandrakant Patil have been appointed as coordinating ministers to address the border dispute. Desai said every summer, Karnataka government approaches Maharashtra with a request to release water from Koyna and Krishna rivers. “Our state always ensures to quench the thirst of people from the neighbouring state by releasing the water. But, now we will have to rethink our decision this summer,” he said.
During the assembly proceedings, opposition parties once again raked up the border issue even as speaker Rahul Narvekar quoted Vidhan Sabha rules to state that it cannot be discussed in the house as the matter was pending in the Supreme Court.
Senior NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil called on the government to seek opinion of state advocate general on whether the sub-judice matter can be discussed in the lower house. He said it would save time and stop government from giving excuses on contentious issues. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan objected to the speaker’s ruling and pointed out that crores of cases are pending in courts.
Narvekar clarified that the assembly was supreme and had not replied to the court’s notices, except once. “The rules are framed for smooth functioning of the houses under rule 34 (2) (f). Those are framed so that the judiciary, executive and legislature can work independently and not interfere in each others’ affairs. If we are following rules, it does not mean that we are surrendering our jurisdiction,” he said.
The members called on for giving a “befitting reply” to Karnataka government which would be soon moving a motion in its assembly on not giving even an inch of land to Maharashtra.
“We are firm on supporting around 865 villages in Karnataka where Marathi-speaking population reside. They all want to be with Maharashtra,” Desai toled the media and added that a meeting of all party leaders will be convened. “If our leaders feel we too can pass a resolution like the one being mulled by Karnataka,” he said.
“We want to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner. We have urged the Centre to intervene as both the states are ruled by BJP,” he said and added that Bommai is issuing instigating statements even after home minister Amit Shah held a meeting with CMs of both the states.
In the assembly, MPCC president Nana Patole flayed the BJP-Shiv Sena (Balasaheb) government for being “mute spectators” to Karnataka’s bullying tactics. “They (Karnataka) have taken an offensive stand with the blessings of the Central government and BJP, but our Enforcement Directorate-driven government is watching everything in silence. This is a plan of BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break Maharashtra,” he said.