Karnataka MPs decide against quitting over Cauvery issue

Members of the Parliament from Karnataka have unanimously resolved against emulating film star turned politician Ambarish, who had resigned from the Lok Sabha and the Federal Ministry to protest the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal’s verdict.

A meeting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka convened in Bangalore decided that no member of the Parliament or Federal Minister from Karnataka needs to resign. For, such a move would serve not help Karnataka secure justice in the Cauvery issue, the meeting resolved.

The meeting also attended by two Federal Ministers from Karnataka – M V Rajashekaran and K H Muniyappa – decided to intensify the agitation inside and outside the Parliament. Presenting a united stand, the MPs declared that they would move an adjournment motion in both the houses of the Parliament when the session starts from February 23.

Former Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party MP from Shimoga Lok Sabha segment in Karnataka S Bangarappa set the tone for the meeting by strongly arguing against the demand for resignation of all MPs from Karnataka. “Who will fight the State’s case if all the MPs resign? Resignation is not the solution”, he said.

Referring to the resignation of Federal Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Ambarish, the MPs felt the move would not serve any purpose. Instead of submitting their resignations, the MPs felt it would be better to raise the issue in the Parliament and bring pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to notify the Tribunal’s award.

Federal Ministers M V Rajashekaran and K H Muniyappa, who are already under pressure from pro-Kannada outfits to come out the Federal Government, said they would abide by the decision taken at the meeting of the MPs.

The meeting, which was chaired by former MP and President of Cauvery Farmers’ Protection Forum G Made Gowda, passed a resolution to urge the farmers against pressing for the resignations of not only the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, but also members of Karnataka’s Legislature.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who also attended the meeting, said he would convene an all-party meeting before the Parliament session begins on February 23. The decision taken at the all-party meeting would be the “Bible” for the State Government to decide its future course of action, he said.

Meanwhile, the MPs’ decision against submitting their resignations has not gone down well with the pro-Kannada outfits, who are in the vanguard of the Cauvery agitation. An angry President of Karnataka Protection Forum Narayan Gowda said the activists of the outfit will stop the MPs from participating in any programme and shout slogans against them at all functions. “The people will show them their place in the next elections”, he said.